The Chief Justice (CJ), Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, has said that the Judicial Council will not shield any judicial officer or staff who would misconduct his or her self.
She has, therefore, called on the public to stand firm and not to give in to unlawful demands of judicial officers and staff.
The CJ, who is the Chairperson of the Council, made the remarks when she inaugurated a new court complex in Winneba on Tuesday.
The building costing about 300,000.00 Ghana Cedis was constructed by the Judicial Service in collaboration with the Effutu Municipal Assembly with support from the Danish International Development Agency.
She said: �harassment in all its various manifestations, including threats and extorting money from persons who throng the court for redress is the cruelest way to treat our people�.
Mrs Wood encouraged the public to report such people for appropriate disciplinary action to be taken against them.
The CJ said: �we envisage a bigger project for the second phase to house a High Court and some other facilities, to meet the justice needs of a growing community�.
She urged Ghanaians, particularly members of the Bar to patronize the court's Connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services in respect of which mediators would soon be trained and attached to the facility.
As compared to formal litigation or court room trials, ADR has proven to be speedier, cheaper and less aggressive and adversarial, the CJ said.
Mrs Wood urged the staff of the new court to exhibit high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
She reminded the staff that most clients who patronize the services of court are often physically and emotionally challenged, and would have to be treated with comfort.
Lawyer Victor Yankson, who represented the Bar Association, hinted that the court at Fanti Nyakomase, Saltpond and Ajumako have no
substantive magistrates thus delaying cases brought before such courts.
He, therefore, appealed to the Chief Justice to post magistrates to those areas to facilitate justice delivery.
Lawyer Alex Markin, Member of Parliament for Effutu, advised that the court should not be used for unnecessary litigations that will not bring development to the area.
Nii Ephraim, Effutu, Municipal Chief Executive, in a speech read on his behalf by the Very Reverend Eldad Bonney, Presiding Member for the Municipal Assembly, said the Assembly will fulfill its part of the agreement to put up residential bungalow for the judge.
He attributed the delay in building a bungalow to the lack of funds.
Neenyi Ghartey VII, Omanhene of Effutu Traditional area, commended the Judicial Service for the construction of the facility, and hoped it will prevent people from traveling long distances to seek justice.
The new building has two court rooms, one to be use for the District Court, whiles the necessary modalities will be put in place to utilize the other as a Circuit Court.
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