General News of Tuesday, 31 March 2020

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

CJ sets aside 28 courts to hear lockdown-related cases

Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah

Chief Justice (CJ), Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, has directed 28 courts within the partial lockdown areas to deal solely with individuals who fail to comply with the lockdown protocols as directed by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

He, however, stated that the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal will be available to handle urgent cases within this period.

The Chief Justice through a statement which directed all courts within the Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi to adjourn its cases to May and June 2020, noted that the move will safeguard “the critical service rendered by the judiciary during this period as exigencies of the situation demands.

“…Registrars are directed to adjourn all cases listed during this period to dates in May and June 2020,” the statement read further.

Some staff of the judiciary, such as, registrars, cashiers, court clerks, interpreters, recorders and bailiffs, will be required to assist in the designated courts.

Justice Anin-Yeboah also wants “skeletal staff determined by Heads of Departments to ensure that critical service are rendered during this period.”

Ghana's case count still stands at 152 with five deaths and two recoveries.

Regional breakdown

Accra -133 (3 dead)

Northern Region – 10

Ashanti Region – 8 (2 dead)

Upper West – 1