ASSESSMENT OF THE PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE IN JUSTICE SECTOR: A CASE STUDY OF WOLKITE TOWN IN GURAGHE ZONE, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The goal of this study was to assess the challenges and practices of good governance practices in the justice sector in Wolkite town administration, Gurage Zone, Central Ethiopia. The study employed a descriptive survey method with mixed research approaches, both quantitative and qualitative. The target population of the study consists of the clients in the justice sector at Wolkite Town Administration. The participants were drawn from all the justice sector customers using simple random sampling techniques and purposive sampling, so that 281 customers were selected as a sample in this study. The relevant data were collected through a questionnaire, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and document reviews. The quantitative data have been analyzed using frequencies and percentages, whereas the qualitative data were narrated systematically using a content analysis approach. The finding demonstrated that the court decision is not free from partiality, the decision was not made quickly, and the justice sector is free from political intervention. Judges, court officers, assistant court officers, prosecutors, registrars, and police fail to take account for their respective duties. Lack of transparency and accountability in the appointment of the judiciary body (judges) was a concern that hindered the prevalence of good governance in the justice sector. Based on the findings, the researcher recommends that the justice sector implement reform on the issues of good governance since the current state of good governance, such as participation, accountability, transparency, and the rule of law, in the Wolkite justice sector is unsatisfactory