“When the Left Hand Doesn’t Know What the Right Is Doingâ€
A few years ago, I had to help a friend settle a land issue. Simple case, or so I thought. We bounced from the police station to the Lands Commission, then to a lawyer’s office, back to the court registry—and at one point, someone casually told us to “just pray about it.†I remember thinking, why do all these institutions act like they’re on different planets? Honestly, it felt like I was assembling furniture without the manual—and each person was holding a different screw.
So when I heard that the Speaker of Parliament is calling for collaboration among legal institutions, my first reaction was: It’s about time.
Let’s face it, our justice system sometimes feels like a group project gone wrong. Everyone’s technically working on the same thing—justice, rule of law, public confidence—but nobody’s really talking to each other. It’s like each institution is in its own bubble: the police have their way, the judiciary has its way, the AG’s department has its own script, and Parliament just observes from the balcony, giving pep talks.
In my opinion, collaboration isn’t just some fancy buzzword we throw around at conferences. It’s survival. It’s how things actually move. Because, no matter how well-meaning each institution is, if they’re pulling in different directions, we all stay stuck in the same spot—frustrated, disillusioned, and dangerously close to not caring anymore.
I’ve noticed something. Anytime there’s a high-profile case—especially one involving politics or corruption—it’s like watching a badly dubbed movie. Delays. Conflicting statements. Suddenly “missing†dockets. It’s embarrassing. And it’s not because the people in the system aren’t smart. It’s because they’re not syncing. There’s no rhythm. No team play.
You know how football teams train together, practice moves, understand each other’s style? That’s collaboration. But if the goalkeeper doesn’t trust the defenders, and the striker is out there doing backflips for the crowd instead of passing the ball, guess what? You lose. Every time.
Honestly, I wasn't sure anyone in power would even acknowledge this disconnect. So seeing the Speaker step up and say something about it? That’s refreshing. It means someone sees the mess. But saying it is one thing. Doing something about it is a whole different game.
Imagine if the police, judiciary, CHRAJ, EOCO, and the rest had a joint digital system. Or regular strategy sessions. Or even just a WhatsApp group where they actually respond. Okay, maybe that’s a stretch—but you get the point.
We can’t keep expecting the legal system to function like a well-oiled machine when half the parts don’t know what the others are doing. It’s frustrating as a citizen. And worse, it creates cracks where injustice thrives.
So here’s my late-night, scroll-through-the-news thought:
If the very institutions meant to uphold the law can't work together, what hope do we have that the law will work for us?