Five district courts inaugurated in Ashanti
In pursuance of the policy of the Judiciary to make justice accessible to more people, five district courts were yesterday inaugurated in the Ashanti Region.
The courts, which were inaugurated simultaneously at Asokore Mampong, Twedie, Akomadan, Kwawso and Jacobu, are the first phase of a project designed to ensure that every district has at least a court.
Inaugurating the Jacobu District Magistrate’s Court, the Presiding Judge of the Kumasi Fast Track High Court, Commercial Division, Justice Jennifer A. Tagoe, who represented the Chief Justice, said the Judiciary was keen on promoting and upholding the human rights of all citizens.
The four other courts were also inaugurated on behalf of the Chief Justice by other judicial officers.
Justice Tagoe said preparations were underway to establish five more magistrate’s courts at Akropong, Asokwa, Drobonso, Akrofuom and Asesewa to save the people from travelling long distances to seek justice in the regional capital.
Criminal Cases
She said the courts were not the only place to seek justice and that aggrieved persons could resort to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to resolve civil cases.
She appealed to members of the public living around the courts and the authorities in the municipalities to help ensure congeniality for the courts to execute their mandate.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie Central, Mr Emmanuel Dede Appiah, expressed delight at the inauguration of the court because the district was facing challenges resulting from small-scale mining, illegal mining, illegal logging, illegal possession of fire arms and blatant disregard for assembly bye-laws.
He said because of the absence of a law court in the district, all cases had to be prosecuted at either Bekwai or Obuasi, which are far away from the Amansie Central District, culminating in huge financial cost to the police, the assembly and some litigants.
Justice Tagoe staged a mock criminal trial to open the court, during which two ‘alleged criminals’ were put on trial.