Stop corrupting Judges - High Court Judge tells litigants

The Supervising High Court Judge in the Volta Region, His Lordship Justice Charles Agbavor has called on Ghanaians to stop involving judges in acts that would lead them into corrupt practices. He has, instead, urged the public to test the law by going to the law courts with cases that could not be handled by chiefs.

He explained that it was becoming a common practice for people who have cases in the court to visit the judges at home with the intention of influencing them.

Describing the conduct as unfortunate, the judge said the time had come for people to have confidence in the judicial system in the country and that it was the legal right of people to petition or appeal if they were not satisfied by judgment delivered at the lower courts.

His Lordship Justice Agbavor observed that judges and magistrates have been putting in their very best in the discharge of their duties stressing that “judges and magistrates are not corrupt until people involved in cases make them corrupt.”

He called on Ghanaians to have trust in the justice system and bring cases that chiefs could not handle to the courts for settlement to ensure discipline in society.

The Supervising High Court Judge was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a newly built District Court for the Akatsi North District at Ave-Dakpa, the District capital on Wednesday, this week.

According to him, the court system was not established to trial people but rather to ensure discipline, law and order in the society. He commended the Akatsi North District Assembly, particularly the District Chief Executive, whose relentless efforts led to the establishment of the court.

He noted that the act of lawlessness and indiscipline particularly among drivers in the Volta region was on the increase and urged the lower courts responsible for handling cases such as traffic offenders to take them more seriously to bring sanity to the road transportation sector.

His Lordship Justice Agbavor urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAS) to make bye-laws on sanitation to help promote sound environmental practices to ensure healthy lifestyle among the people.

According to the Volta Region Supervising High Court Judge, juvenile and family courts would be added to the Akatsi North District court to handle cases involving juvenile.

He noted that men who impregnate women without looking after the children should change their attitude before the law caught up with them.

His Lordship Justice Agbavor advised chiefs to resolve some minor cases at home and report back to the court to ensure peace among parties involved in dispute saying court settlements normally did not promote peace among the people.

He urged the judicial staff to uphold high level of integrity of the judicial service and avoid practices that were likely to drag the image of the judiciary into public ridicule.

In a speech read for her, the Volta Regional Minister, Madam Helen Adwoa Ntoso commended the Akatsi North District Assembly for the establishment of the court which she observed would go a long way to promote the rule of law in the area.

He urged the staff of the court to work effectively without prejudice so as to help build confidence in the judicial system.

Madam Ntoso noted that with the establishment of the court in the District, the justice system would be swift as it would promote high level of discipline and called on chiefs in the District to support the court and other law enforcement agencies to promote law and order in society.

The Akatsi North District Chief Executive, Mr. James Gunu observed that the District was endowed with tourism and agricultural potentials hence the need to protect the resources for the benefit of the present and the future generations.

To him therefore, the establishment of the court would help in the promotion of rule of law in the area.

Mr. Gunu assured that the Assembly would support the court in its activities and pointed out that the people in the area would no longer travel to Dzodze in the Ketu North District and Akatsi in the Akatsi South District to seek justice.