Avoid acts that undermine justice delivery -C J Tells judicial workers

Juaben (Ash), March 2, GNA - Mrs. Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, the Chief Justice, has implored court users and other stakeholders in the administration of justice to avoid negative acts that tend to delay and undermine justice delivery and erode public confidence in the system. She said a weak and ineffective justice system was a breeding ground for the breakdown of law and order, growth and development and there was the need the need for all to join hands to meet the justice needs of the people.

Mrs. Justice Wood made the call at the inauguration of a circuit courthouse at Juaben in the Ejisu-Juaben municipality of Ashanti. The facility, which is a rehabilitated abandoned native court building was undertaken by the Juaben Traditional Council and supported by the Judicial Service. The Chief Justice said it was the desire of the Judicial Service to provide justice to all manner of persons and bring justice delivery to the doorstep of the people. She commended the chief and people of Juaben Traditional Area for the initiative and said it was a demonstration synergy between public and private partnership.

Mrs. Justice Wood appealed to litigants and other users of the court to try Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, which would be introduced in the court, as the first option, before venturing into full-scale trial, should the ADR failed to meet their hopes and aspirations.

Nana Otuo Siribour II, Juabenhene, said the provision of the facility, which was in response to an appeal made by the Chief Justice, demonstrated a closer collaboration between traditional authorities and the Judicial Service to promote and enhance justice delivery in the country. He said the Traditional Council had also earmarked a large track of land for the Judicial Service to construct a high court complex in the town.

Mr. Kofi Opoku Manu, Ashanti regional Minister, said justice and security was very important in the developmental process and commended the chief and people in the area for the initiative. He called on the people to rally behind the chief to promote development in the area. Earlier, Mrs. Justice Wood performed official ceremony to commence the sitting of the Court of Appeal in Kumasi. The Appeal's Court will currently sit fortnightly till October, when it will have permanent Justices to sit regularly.

Mrs. Georgina Wood said the establishment of the Appeal's Court in Kumasi would help reduce the drudgery litigants from the northern sector of the country to go through in accessing justice at the superior courts. She called on the Regional Coordinating Councils and District Assemblies to collaborate with the Judicial Service in terms of infrastructure to enhance justice delivery at the local levels.