President John Atta Mills has reminded the Judiciary of the need to be mindful of the very pillars underscoring Ghana’s coat of arms; Freedom and Justice in the discharge of their duties.

According to President Atta Mills when one of these pillars collapses the whole edifice come down.

The President made these remarks at a sod-cutting ceremony to commence work on a 34-Courtroom Court Complex in Accra.

The project when completed is expected to transform the face of the court system in Ghana and present it as a modern institution ready to meet the complexities of the IT age.

The $50m facility when completed will replace the dilapidated Cocoa Affairs Court which houses the bulk of Circuit and High Courts in the Metropolis.

President Atta Mills used to the occasion to urge the judiciary to at all time partner the executive arm of government in providing the necessary infrastructure enhance the delivery of justice.

He said “very often there are those who question whether the executive supports the judiciary or not? It is not a question to ask, because no executive can survive where there is no justice. And justice can only be administered by the judiciary. It stands to reason therefore that the two of us must have a common agenda”.

President Atta Mills noted that due to competing demands in other sectors, it has become difficult to meet the myriad of needs of the judiciary. He however stressed that the executive is making efforts to address the challenges facing the judiciary.

The project is expected to be completed in two and half years.

The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, on her part, said the lack of court houses and their uneven distribution militate against the effective discharge of its mandate.

The new facility has therefore come as a relief to the Service