Justice Sophia Akuffo, the Chief Justice, on Tuesday stated that plans were underway to merge all lower courts in one big compound so that access to justice would be in a broader space and made easy.
She said prototype drawings were being developed for the lower courts as expandable plans for them and this would also prevent people from travelling long distances to access justice.
Addressing participants at the 11th annual Chief Justice’s forum, in Accra, on the theme; “quality justice delivery at the district level,” she said they have had high level deliberations with major stakeholders to map out plans of improving justice delivery at the lower level.
She said most district courts across the country which were supposed to be for the administration of justice were in deplorable states, saying where quality justice failed, public perception changes, and when that happened the image of the judiciary was affected.
Justice Akuffo, noted that there was the need to ensure that, the responsibility of the local authority in the light of criminal development to do what was expected of them to ensure ready access to the administration of justice, was done.
She said every assembly must live up to expectation in providing properly built and furnished courts rooms and accommodation for judges and magistrates, saying the building of courts was the responsibility of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA’s).
“Courts would not be commissioned without accommodation for judges, because it is unhealthy for judges and magistrates to travel long distances because they are compelled to live outside their jurisdiction to administer justice,” she said.
She reiterated the fact that by the end of the year court buildings that were in deplorable states would be closed in the interest, safety and security of judges and magistrates, as well as people who went about their normal duties over there.
She expressed disappointment at the absence of the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development or a representative at the forum, saying it showed apparent disregard for anything that had to do with the judiciary that had become the norm.
The Chief Justice called on civic spirited individuals, institutions and the business community to consider supporting the judiciary and the judicial service at the local level.
Justice Stephen A. Brobbey, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court said the lower courts did not merely form part of the judiciary, but were considered as the face of the law or judiciary to facilitate access to other courts.
He said the lower courts formed the foundation of the judicial system, where people saw and interact more frequently and as such must be sustained to ensure trust in the justice delivery system.
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