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Mr. Justice Jones Dotse, a Judge of the Supreme Court has asked chiefs and religious leaders to urgently build public confidence in their arbitration mechanisms by being fair.

He said this would attract many of their own people to reduce congestion in the courts.

Justice Dotse was inaugurating a High Court at Sogakope in the South Tongu District.

He explained that litigation was expensive and advised litigants to consider the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) opportunities.

“The court is meant to be assessed by all but I would urge you to try other alternate dispute resolution chances, especially in civil cases, including family inheritance and marital issues, Justice Dotse stated.

He stressed, however, that criminal cases including murder, rape and defilement, cases were bound for the court.

Justice Dotse, in reference to the recent judicial bribery scandal, asked the public to refrain from unduly pressurizing judges and lawyers, and cautioned the judicial staff to avoid being conduits for reaching the judges.

The Judge urged his colleagues to remain impartial arbiters.

He said the public’s mindset that they could gain an advantage ‘by seeing the judge’ was unfortunate.

“There are processes of appeal when one is not satisfied with a judgment,” Justice Dotse stated.

He asked the court staff to remain civil to all shades of clients.

The Judge commended the Assembly and the traditional authorities for the zeal in bringing the project to fruition.

Mr. Francis Ganyaglo, the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, said the inauguration represented a manifestation of the democratic and socio-economic development of the region and the country, which was anchored on accessibility of justice and justice delivery, necessary for dispute resolution and peace.

Mr. Kofi Aggey, Chairman of the Volta Regional Ghana Bar Association, called for a library in the court.

Mr. Samuel Eworyi, the DCE of the area, said an alternate place would be found for the district library, which was to be housed in the court building.

He said a three-room residential facility had been provided for the judge to be posted to the court.