CJ bemoans deplorable state of courts at Agona Swedru

The Chief Justice (CJ) Mrs Sophia Akuffo has bemoaned the deplorable state of the Agona Swedru Magistrate Circuit and High Courts in the Municipality.

She said it was the duty of the Agona West Assembly to build modern designed complex court edifices that befitted the status of the Municipality.

The CJ made the remarks when she visited three courts at Agona Swedru as part of her four-day tour of the Central Region to acquaint herself with problems and challenges facing the judicial system in the region.

Mrs Akuffo said it was not the duty of the Judicial Service to provide court buildings, but their responsibility was to dispense justice speedily.

The CJ and her entourage had earlier visited Awutu Beraku and Kasoa, Apam and Gomoa Dawurampong courts before proceeding to Cape Coast.

She expressed unhappiness about the unconcerned attitudes exhibited by the Agona West Municipal Assembly over the years about the deplorable state of the three courts; where the lawyers and the Judges used ancient chairs and tables at various rooms of the court.

At Agona Swedru Magistrate court, Mrs Florence Opare, the Registrar took the CJ and her entourage made up of Justice Alex Poku Acheampong, Judicial Secretary, Justice Kwasi Dapaa, the Supervising High Court Judge of the Central Region and other Directors of the Judicial Service round to inspect the Magistrate and Circuit courts.

Mrs Akuffo was also accompanied by Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, the Agona West Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and Mr Benjamin Kojo Otoo, the Gomoa Central District Chief Executive (DCE).

The CJ said the Judicial Service would no more countenance improvisation at the courts which impeded the speedily delivery of justice to the people in Agona West and beyond.

Mrs Akuffo urged the Agona West Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Mrs Justina Assan to provide modern complex court building to accommodate all the three courts at Agona Swedru.

“I will like to commission a modern designed architectural building for Agona Swedru before I retire after 2019 to make justice delivery system simple and easy at Agona Swedru” she said.

Mrs Akuffo who also paid a courtesy call on Nana Ogdigram Okokobioko Aseidu Kobena Botwe II, Chief of Agona Swedru at his palace to interact with him and his elders told the chief that the Judicial Service had put in measures to train traditional rulers to handle cases in order to reduce the pressure on the courts across the country.

Nana Ogdigram Okokobioko Botwe lauded the Chief Justice for taking the trouble despite her busy schedules to inspect the Agona Swedru courts to assess the prevailing situation and to help improve the judicial system.

He said there were lands available for the construction of modern complex courts in the area and appealed to the Chief Justice to assist to reduce the frustration in the discharge of justice.