CHIEF JUSTICE DEPLORES CONDITION OF COURTS (MIRROR, PAGE 34, MIRROR, JUNE 4, 2010)

From Joe Okyere, Assin Fosu

The Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, has deplored the poor conditions of some of the Lower courts in the country and commended magistrates, judges and staff for working under such non-conducive environment.
She said conditions at most of the lower courts in the country are deplorable which need the collective effort of all stakeholders and assemblies to address.
Speaking after visiting the Magistrate Court at Assin Fosu to assess the condition at the court, Mrs Wood said she was, however, encouraged by the efforts of the Magistrate, Mr Joseph Blay, to get a new court complex built to house the dilapidated one.
It would be recalled that a snake emerged from the ceiling of the court last month during proceedings, creating confusion in the courtroom.
She said the conditions at the old structure are not the best and that it could not pass for a place where justice is dispensed.
Commenting on the new complex under construction, the Chief Justice said when completed, the court would be upgraded to a circuit court and possibly, a high court would be created to bring justice to the door step of the people to save aggrieve persons from travelling to Cape Coast.
Mrs Wood urged the people to take advantage of the alternative dispute resolution to resolve their differences and avoid long litigation.
An Appeal Court Judge with oversight responsibility for the courts in the Central region, Mr Samuel Marful-Sau, who accompanied the Chief Justice, advised the people to educate their children to enable them to become useful citizens in the society.
He advised them to avoid instance justice and uphold the principle of rule law for peace and development of the country.
The District Chief Executive for Assign South, Ms Sabina Appiah-Kubi, said the assembly would rehabilitate the old court building at Nyankumasi Ahenkro to serve as a court for the district, which has no court.