Coronavirus: Judicial Service yet to provide sanitizers at Court complex

Almost 48-hours after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo temporarily banned social gathering and shut down schools due to an increase in Coronavirus cases in Ghana, the Judicial Service is yet to provide hand sanitizers at the entrance of Law Court complex and any courtroom.

The facility that houses about 42 High Courts and receives about 3,000 visitors, lawyers and Justice seekers on daily bases aside Judicial Service workers, has failed to put in place any health measure despite advice by Health experts and the President.

A visit by Starr FM’s Wilberforce Asare revealed that unlike some institutions, the judicial service is yet to place hand sanitizers or washing soap with water to protect who throng the court premises.

The Judiciary Service on Monday ordered the suspension of cases involving the movement of convicted and remand prisoners from the prisons to the courts.

The service said in criminal appeals, the Courts should dispense with the appearance of the appellants who are in prison custody.

A press release issued by the service announced that courts will practice strict case management techniques such that only parties and witnesses in cases listed to be heard on particular dates would be allowed into the courtroom to avoid large gatherings.

“Judges and Magistrates should endeavour to adjourn cases to specific times on given dates, to limit the number of people that will be allowed into the courtroom,” the statement said.

The statement noted: “Judges and Magistrates should only hear cases which are of extreme urgency and as far as possible, exercise great restraint in remanding accused persons, in order to avoid overcrowding the prisons and police cells.”

“Judges and Magistrates should suspend the hearing of cases involving the movement of convicted and remand prisoners from the prisons to the Courts. In criminal appeals, the Courts should dispense with the appearance of the appellants who are in prison custody.”