Judicial Service opens Complaints Office in Kumasi

The Judicial Service has inaugurated a Public Relations and Complaints’ Unit in Kumasi, as efforts to promote transparency and accountability in the administration of justice intensified.

The office, the first to be established outside Accra, would receive complaints, grievances and concerns that the people might have about the conduct of judges and other staff of the Judiciary.

Justice Gibson K. Adzagli, the Supervising High Court Judge, who performed the ceremony, said it was yet another significant step towards bringing the administration of justice closer to the people.

Litigants, lawyers and all those having genuine challenges with access to justice would no longer have to travel to Accra to have them addressed.

He said it would not only facilitate justice delivery, but also demystify the courts - seen by some as too technical, coercive, intimidating and expensive.

Justice Adzagli gave the assurance that complaints would be speedily and exhaustively dealt with.

He, however, pointed out that the creation of the Unit must not be construed as an opportunity for anybody to write anonymous letters, level unsubstantiated allegations, and make their own stories about magistrates, judges and other staff of the Judicial Service.

He was emphatic that such negative practices would not to be entertained, and must therefore be avoided.

Justice Adzagli said everybody should come, by properly identifying themselves, and to also make sure they were not equally guilty.

Deputy Commissioner of Prisons (DCOP) William Ofori Anorf, Ashanti Regional Prisons Commander, appealed to them not to entirely ignore anonymous letters, because these could provide vital clues to improve the system, and reduce the perceived corruption in the judicial system.

He such more of such offices should be created, especially in the rural areas, to build strong public trust.

Mr. George William Dove, is head of the Kumasi Office, with Mr. Kwabena Ewusi, as his deputy.