Judicial Service will revive defunct District Courts - CJ

Accra, Nov. 2, GNA - The Judicial Service is determined to revive District Courts throughout the country and establish new ones in District Assemblies where office accommodation will be provided. Mr. Justice George Kingsley Acquah, Chief Justice(CJ), who said this in Accra on Thursday at the swearing in of 40 Career Magistrates, said this would help dispose of most of the cases that have piled up at the Magistrate's Courts.

The Magistrates went through a two-year training in Criminal Law and Procedure; Civil Procedure and Principles of Ghana Law; Juvenile Justice Legislation; Legal and Administrative Duties of Magistrates; and Commercial, Family, Constitutional and Customary Laws, among others. Their induction brings the total number of career magistrates so far sworn in since the programme started three years ago to 67. Giving statistics of cases locked up at the District Magistrate's Courts, Mr Justice Acquah said a total of 82,685 cases were filed in 2004, with the figure rising to 99,975 last year.

The CJ added that this year alone, as many as 101,089 cases had been filed at the Magistrate's Courts. He urged the new career magistrates to exhibit a high sense of honesty, integrity, efficiency and selflessness. Mr Justice Acquah reminded them that like a blind man who carried the sword on the scale of justice, they were duty bound to determine cases impartially and in accordance with law.

"You are to conduct your business in Court depending only on the law and the facts of the case before you and not on the personalities in the case, because anything short of this will be dishonourable." He reiterated that the Judiciary was not a gold mine and therefore reminded members whose aim was to amass wealth at the expense of their work that they would be smoked out if caught.

"From now on, learn to live as Magistrates, guard your tongue and conduct your affairs in such a manner as to bring honour to yourself, your family, and the institution of which you have this day become a member."

Professor Just ice Kodzo Paaku Kludze, Supreme Court Judge and Director of the Career Magistrates' Programme, urged the new magistrates to endeavour to live above reproach and give of their best in order not to bring the good name of the Judiciary into disrepute.

The new career magistrates later took the three Oaths of Allegiance, Judicial and Secrecy after which they were presented with certificates.

Earlier, the CJ had sworn into office 16 Circuit Judges and three Magistrates.