Chief Justice, AG inaugurate Dodowa District Court

Chief justice, Her Ladyship, Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo on Friday inaugurated a renovated solar-powered district court at a colourful ceremony in Dodowa in the Shai Osudoku district of the Greater Accra Region.

The courthouse renovated by Messrs Ground Touch Company Limited, houses the Magistrate’s Chambers, Registrar’s Office, Recorder’s Office, Bailiffs’ Section, Docket Room, Cashier’s Office, stores, a holding room (cells), an auditorium, washrooms and an ADR room, together with the residential accommodation with a fence wall for the Magistrate.

The renovation of the facility became necessary following a call on all District Assemblies by Ms Sophia A. Akuffo, the Chief Justice in March, 2018, to secure befitting courtrooms and residential facilities’ for circuit court judges and Magistrates.

The old Dodowa District court was housed in an old wooden structure with no cell for accused persons. Ms Akuffo who was not happy with the court structure indicated that if six months after her visit the Assembly failed to get a decent place she would close down the district court.

Inaugurating the renovated court on Friday, August 30th, 2019, the Chief Justice underscored the need for an efficient and viable Judiciary which she said remained one of the key requisites for any thriving democratic society such as being currently experienced in Ghana.

She noted that despite efforts at improving the legal and constitutional framework within which the country operates, it was equally confronted with dealing with physical infrastructure that had undermined efforts to deliver justice.

“As the Courts experience increased patronage by Court users due to increase in population, high levels of literacy as well as advances made in our economy, the deficiencies in our physical infrastructure have been brought to bare,” said the Chief Justice. “These have resulted in delays in securing justice that inevitably affects confidence in the judicial process with all the attendant negative effects that come with it.”



Justice Sophia Akuffo while commending the Shai Osudoku District Assembly for surmounting various challenges to renovate its Courthouse, reiterated her call on all Assemblies to emulate the gesture shown by the Shai Osudoku District Assembly, notwithstanding any financial difficulties that may hinder them from realizing that “lawful duty.”

To avert the danger of the citizenry losing confidence in the country’s justice delivery system, due, in part, to delays in obtaining justice and its subsequent threats on the nation's stability and cohesion and loss of investment opportunities, the Chief Justice said the Judicial Service had embarked on the computerisation of the Courts and the introduction of the e-Justice system (the Paperless Court processing system) in the forty-four (44) High Courts in the Law Courts Complex, to help it perform its duties better and more efficiently, adding that “as Chief Justice, it is my personal vision that we harness the tools of technology to improve efficiency in justice delivery.”

She also cautioned the general public against bribery of the judiciary, adding that both the giver and taker were equally guilty before the law.

“All monies that must be paid to the court must be paid to the accountant and an official receipt given to that effect, anything less is a bribe,” warned the chief justice.

On her part, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Miss Gloria Afua Akuffo who recounted her tour of “every corner of the country” since her appointment noted that the expedition afforded her the opportunity to observe firsthand the environment under which the people she superintends over worked, following which she gave deadlines for the renovation of most courthouses.

While emphasizing the essence of peace, growth and development in nation building, Miss Akuffo however said justice was the only prerequisite for the attainment of these virtues.

She however charged the District Chief Executive to complete renovation works on the accommodation of the district magistrate, Her Worship, Gloria Laryea.

Recounting the difficult circumstances under which the old court operated, District Chief Executive for Shai Osudoku, Daniel Akuffo regretted that though the assembly had consistently captured the renovation of the court in its composite budget, it failed to undertake works on it due to “other competing demands.”

The assembly chief on behalf of the chiefs and people of Shai Osudoku expressed his profound appreciation to Her Ladyship, the Chief Justice, for her continued support for the district, as the Judicial Service fully funded the solar oriented solar court.

He however assured Her Ladyship of carrying out renovation works on the residence of the magistrate of the district court, Her Worship, Gloria Laryea, as soon as possible to enable her live and work in a congenial atmosphere.

Mr. Akuffo who decried the lethargic approach of the assembly in dealing with sanitation offenders due to the absence of by-laws announced the passing of the draft by-laws at its last general assembly meeting as it awaits its gazetting by the Ghana publishing by the Ghana Publishing Corporation.

He pleaded for a designated day in court purposely for the hearing of sanitation related offences with the hope that proceeds from such cases will be paid to the assembly while general sanitation in the district is improved.

Other dignitaries present at the ceremony were, the District Coordinating Director and Presiding Member of the Shai Osudoku District Assembly, Dodowa Matse, Okukrubuor Nene Teye Kwesi Agyemang V, the queenmother, Nana Dedetsu Yopeyo III, the Judicial Service team, and the Divisional Police Commander.