A Justice of the Court of Appeal, His Lordship Justice N.C.A. Agbevor has cautioned staff of district courts against abandoning their duties for private gains and asked that they rather comply with legitimate hours for court activities which is from 8:30am to 4:00pm.
He described situations where courtrooms are left empty without judicial staff during official hours, as heartbreaking and called on the staff to eschew indiscipline behaviours.
“Some staff go to work at 10:00am because they say there are no cases. I have inaugurated about 5 District Courts in this region but have noted that after the inauguration some places become virtually empty which I believe would not be the case here”.
His Lordship Justice Agbevor gave the caution at a ceremony to inaugurate a district court at Ve-Golokuati in the Afadzato South District of the Volta Region.
According to him, government has put in place measures to ensure that the Judiciary lives up to standard and policies are being embarked on to hold judicial staff accountable for their actions.
He said the Judiciary cannot work against the ideas of the ruling government, neither would they oppose the legislations of the Assemblies, thus, he entreated District Chief Executives, Chiefs and people to ensure that issues of indiscipline among judicial workers are quickly brought to the appropriate authorities for rectification.
Justice Agbevor disclosed that Afadzato South District Court exists to coordinate and work hand in hand with other institutions in the District to ensure peace and development.
He therefore, asked the people to corporate with the staff towards achieving a common goal of strengthening the peaceful co-existence among the citizenry and appealed to them not to interfere in the process of justice delivery since that will hinder the peaceful environment needed to work.
The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa underscored the existence of a court system in any society in advancing the true course of justice.
“There is the need for courts to be established closer to the people to create the opportunity for them to seek redress on alleged infractions against the constitution or the laws of the State.”
He called on the people of the district to resort to legal means (the court) for resolution of their conflicts.
The District Chief Executive for the area, Lawyer Wisdom Seneadza said the presence of the Court in the District was a major relief to the people since they will no longer have to seek the services of a court outside the District.
He expressed optimism that the presence of the district court will relieve the District Police Service of the financial burden of having to persecute offenders of the law on behalf of the Attorney General outside the district and as well help distinguish between cases that can be adjudicated at traditional customary courts which was not the case in the absence of a court.
By: Collins Anku/voltaonlinegh.com