Establishment of Land courts in the offing

Kumasi, April 01, GNA - Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, has announced plans by the Ministry of Justice to establish courts that would deal with land disputes and related issues.

He said the land courts to be supervised by the High Courts were part of measures to speed up trials in land disputes and related issues in the country.

Mr Owusu-Ansah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Kwabre West, announced this when delivering a public lecture as part of activities marking the Third Annual Week celebration of Law Students Union (LSU) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

Speaking on the topic, "Enhancing Democratic Governance through a More Responsible Exercise of the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression," Mr Owusu-Ansah asked Ghanaians not to abuse the freedom of speech prevailing in the country now.

"Freedom of speech and expression is a two-edged sword that can be used to make or unmake a nation," He added.

Mr Owusu-Ansah appealed to Ghanaians to refrain from unguarded statements, which had the tendency to whip up tension and passion in the country, adding; "In as much as our freedom of speech is enshrined in the Constitution, we should do well to exercise it more responsibly." The Deputy Minister of Justice stressed the need for adequate resources to the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) to intensify its education on constitutional rights, responsibilities and freedoms to the people.

He noted that when the public became aware of their constitutional rights they would participate effectively in the country's democratic governance and appreciate the rule of law.

Reverend Professor Emmanuel Ofori-Amankwaah, Dean of the Faculty of Law of KNUST, reiterated the need for media practitioners to be circumspect in their reportage to consolidate peace in the country.