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A Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Jones Dotse, has expressed concern over some inadequacies in the judicial service which were affecting the effective administration of the judicial service in the country.

According to him, the Judicial Service of Ghana has for several years, experienced an inadequacy in court infrastructure such as court houses and residential facilities for judges and obsolete equipment and technology.

“As a public institution, the Judicial Service is responsible for providing an enabling environment for the administration of justice by creating a legal and judicial system that promotes the rule of law, transparency and speedy administration of justice,” Justice Dotse stressed.

Justice Dotse was speaking at the inauguration of a High Court at Somanya in the Yilo Krobo Municipality in the Eastern Region.

The establishment of the court in Somanya was initiated by the Judicial Service and constructed by the Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly, in collaboration with the Yilo Krobo Traditional Council.

Measures

Justice Dotse said as part of measures to address the challenges in the service, the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, initiated some major reforms and modernisation programmes to improve efficiency in the adjudication process in the country.

It includes the employment of global best practices to bring the justice delivery system at par with current international standards to enhance justice delivery and also improve access to justice.

“The judicial service has, through court expansion, refurbishment and creation of new courts, succeeded in bringing justice to the doorsteps of the ordinary Ghanaian,’’ he emphasised.

According to Justice Dotse, the idea to establish the court in Somanya dated back to the late 1970s. The project was, however, stalled due to lack of funds and the political will from successive administrations.

Advice

The Supreme Court Judge advised the people and members of the Bar to resort to the Court Connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (CCADR) mechanism to resolve conflicts among themselves and their clients.

He indicated that working for the courts was a service for which reason “staff must exhibit high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties to protect and maintain the good image of the service and also avoid acts that will bring the administration of justice into disrepute.’’

Gratitude

The acting President of the Yilo Krobo Traditional Council, Nene Tetteh Odorkor Tumeh, expressed gratitude to the Judicial Service for the honour done the traditional area, adding, “our dream since 1970 has come true.’’

The dignitaries who witnessed the ceremony were Mr Seth Terkper, former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Owusu Frempong -Boadu, the Yilo Krobo Coordinating Director, the Magistrate of Somanya Magistrate Court, Madam Emily Abroquah and some chiefs and queenmothers from the area.