By Isidore Kpotufe | Communique | IMANI Africa
Founding President and CEO of the IMANI Center for Policy and Education, Franklin Cudjoe, has been appointed by the Honourable Lady Chief Justice to the Users Committee of the Commercial Court of the Republic of Ghana as part of a four-year programme dubbed “Business Enabling Environment Programme” (BEEP).
The United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), with a funding support of £ 10 Million, is collaborating with the Judicial Service of Ghana to implement the BEEP from 2015 to 2018. The aim of this programme is to consolidate the gains made under the “Private Sector Development Strategy”. The four-year project is expected to support the Commercial Court in the efficient and effective adjudication of commercial cases which will consequently ensure a better business environment in Ghana.
The Users Committee of the Commercial Court is established as a Stakeholders’ Forum, through which the Court solicits feedback regarding its activities. In the course of implementing all BEEP work-plans, Private Sector players are expected to make contributions and propose reforms. As part of their role as a stakeholders forum, The Users Committee may be consulted for their inputs and comments on the proposed reforms and to submit detailed feedback as interventions in the BEEP work plans are implemented.
March, 2, 2016 marked both the inauguration of the New Users Committee and the induction into office of its Members, including Franklin Cudjoe. These functions were held in the presence of Notable figures of the Judicial Service, including Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, Supervising Judge of the Commercial Court and Justice Jennifer Dodoo, President of the Commercial Court.
Franklin Cudjoe is noted to be a strong advocate of Private Sector reforms intended to facilitate the activities of businesses in Ghana.
Under his leadership, IMANI in collaboration with the Atlas Network is running a three-year project whose object is to proffer policy recommendations that make the process of starting a business and paying taxes in Ghana more friendly to local entrepreneurs.
Isidore Kpotufe, Director of IMANIfrancopne.org and Head of Communications at IMANI.
