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| The new circuit court building |
The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, has given an assurance that the Judiciary will purge itself of all corrupt characters to restore trust in the service and protect the integrity of the nation.
She, therefore, called on Ghanaians to continue to have confidence in the country’s judicial system, in spite of the recent exposé on alleged corrupt activities of some judges and staff of the judicial service by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
In an address read on her behalf at the inauguration of the Awutu Senya District Circuit Court at Awutu Beraku in the Central Region, Mrs Justice Wood declared the resolve of the Judicial Council to use due process to deal with the alleged corrupt activities of some judges and judicial staff.
She said since judges were not extraordinary human beings, they should always strive to rise above all temptations in the adjudication of cases in order to protect the sanctity of the Judiciary.
Mediation of cases
The Chief Justice cautioned staff of the Judicial Service against allowing themselves to be used as conduits to mediate cases with judges, since such a practice might lead to miscarriage of justice.
“Cases sent to court could only be settled in the courtroom. Complainants and defendants should stop visiting judges in their homes and chambers to influence them in order to receive favourable outcomes.
“I urge judicial staff not to allow themselves to be used by their clients to influence court processes. Such acts will go a long way to negatively affect the image of the judicial system in the country,’’ she pointed out.
Instant justice
Mrs Justice Wood called on the public to put a stop to instant justice and rather hand over suspected criminals to the police for the law to take its course.
She stated that the practice of suspected criminals being lynched or burnt to death by the public was against the law, as well as affected due process in settling cases.
DCE
The District Chief Executive for Awutu Senya, Mr Sampson Abbey Armah, said the district was growing fast and the assembly, with funds from the District Assemblies Common Fund, decided to put up the court building to address the challenges that might arise as a result of urbanisation.
He disclosed that the assembly would put up a new office for the district magistrate’s court, while the old structure would be renovated and converted into a High Court.
He noted that the new court would help reduce crime and land-related issues in the district.
