Crime & Punishment of Thursday, 24 June 2010

Source: GNA

New Courts complex facility for Winneba - Chief Justice

Winneba, June 24, GNA - The Judicial Service has approved the construction of a Modern Court

Complex facility for Winneba to ensure the speedy delivery of justice in that jurisdiction. The Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, said this at a stakeholders' forum, in Winneba, on

Wednesday, to seek suggestions and views to chart a roadmap for the construction of the project. Mrs Wood said the new facility would comprise District and Circuit Courts, child-friendly court

rooms and offices for juvenile justice. The new court building would also have a modern library, offices for the judges and registrars, a

clinic, a bank, offices for Commissioners of Oath and a car park. "Provision would also be made for a High Court in the not too distant future," she promised. According to the Chief Justice, the building would have a facility that would make it easily

accessible to the physically challenged. When completed, the Chief Justice said, the building would enable officials of the dilapidated

Magistrate's Court in Winneba to perform their duties effectively. Currently, the Winneba District Magistrate's Court operates from a portion of the Prisons Service

building. The Chief Justice said the modern court would have advantages of promoting interaction between

the judges and patrons of the court, adding that, it would also give litigants the assurance of justice. "It minimizes the perceived intimidation of those who administer justice and also enhances the

confidence of Judges and judicial staff and motivates them for improved service delivery," she

observed. Nii Ephraim, Effutu Municipal Chief Executive, said the Assembly would soon start the construction

of residential places for judges, registrars and other staff who would be posted to the Municipality. The MCE said the establishment of the court complex would save people from travelling to Agona

Swedru and Cape Coast to seek Justice. Nii Ephraim cautioned the people of the Effutu Traditional Area not to take advantage of the courts

to litigate unnecessarily but use it to fight for their rights.