Modern court complex for Tema
From Richard Attenkah, Tema
Chief Justice Georgina Wood
The office of the Chief Justice has initiated plans to construct a new facility to house the various courts in the Tema Metropolis under one roof. The proposed facility, which would provide accessibility for the physically challenged in compliance with the 1992 Constitution, would consist of facilities like Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) rooms, library facilities and offices for commissioners of oath among others.
This was disclosed by the Chief Justice (CJ), Her Ladyship Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, at a stakeholders’ forum held in Tema last Tuesday.
The Chief Justice noted that currently in Tema, there were only two high courts available to resolve disputes.
According to her, the courts, located in different structures in the port city, were in very deplorable states, and also lacked facilities that would provide a conducive and safe environment for productivity and the proper administration of justice, including holding cells for suspects on remand.
She described the current court facilities in the metropolis as woefully inadequate and substandard, saying they do not befit the status of the city, which really is the maritime hub and gateway to Ghana and other neighbouring countries.
The CJ explained that it was a safe and stable environment that leads to economic growth and development, since foreign investors feel more confident to risk their fortunes in credible judicial systems that would provide the needed protection, in the event of a dispute.
“It may be pertinent to note that it is lack of investor confidence in the judiciary system of host countries that leads to the choice of international, rather than domestic dispute resolution centres to handle investment disputes,” she said.
She indicated that Ghana’s first oil, expected in the next few months, was supposed to change the economic circumstances in the country positively, thus all Ghanaian institutions of state must co-operate with the government towards achieving its developmental agenda, indicating that Tema must contribute its quota, hence the need for a modern court complex that would ensure the full utilisation of reform initiatives.
Justice Georgina Wood elucidated that the modern and user-friendly courts would promote interaction between judges and other court users, provide litigants with the assurance of justice, irrespective of their cultural backgrounds, minimise perceived intimidation by those who administer justice, and enhance the confidence of judges and judicial staff, and motivate them for improved service delivery.
Richard Akpokavie, Tema President of the Ghana Bar Association, expressed his appreciation to the Chief Justice and the government, and added that the association would do all it can to support the judiciary in ensuring that the court complex was completed.
The Acting Managing Director of the Tema Development Corporation (TDC), Joe Abbey, on his part, said his outfit was honoured to be associated with a process that would fulfill the mandate of not only ensuring efficient and speedy administration of justice, but doing so in a manner that would bring such services to the doorsteps of the people.
He hinted that the TDC had already released a parcel of land at the Meridian Hotel area to the Judicial Service for the construction of the court complex.
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