Be professional in the discharge of duties - CJ
The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, has advised staff of the Judicial Service to exhibit a high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
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She said most clients who patronised their services had been emotionally wounded or become distressed or broken and often needed the assistance of the staff in their effort to seek redress.
Justice Wood gave the advice in a speech read on her behalf by a Justice of the Appeal Court, Mr Justice Dennis Adjei, at the inauguration of the Mampong District Court in Asante-Mampong yesterday.
The ceremony was attended by members of the judiciary, the clergy, as well as traditional rulers, the people of the area, among others.
The Mampong Court is among 10 in the country whose construction, refurbishment and automation were financed by Denmark, through the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and the Ghana Government.
Justice Wood said it was her vision to improve access to justice in the country through the strategy of ensuring that justice was brought to the doorstep of the ordinary citizen.
She said the Judicial Service had, for several decades, faced the problem of extreme accommodation shortage and working with inadequate facilities.
She said while most courthouses were in disrepair, others were housed in rented premises, coupled with the use of inappropriate technology and obsolete equipment.
Justice Wood said though the Local Government Act enjoined the assemblies to provide courthouses and accommodation for magistrates, that had not been complied with in many of the districts and municipalities.
She, however, underscored the fact that the Judicial Service had the responsibility to provide an enabling environment by creating a legal and judicial system that promoted the rule of law, transparency and the speedy administration of justice.
She was hopeful that the Asante-Mampong courts, which included high and district courts, would contribute immensely to accessing justice.
Justice Wood commended the Mamponghene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, for releasing a tract of land for the project.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Mampong, Mr Francis Addai-Nimoh, said the court would enhance the delivery of justice and ultimately democratic governance.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Supervising High Court Judge in the Ashanti Region, Mr Justice Robin Batu, had promised that the project would be put to good use.
By Nana Yaw Barimah