Half Assini Magistrate’s Court suspends sittings

Half Assini, (W/R) Aug. 2, GNA - A number of people who travelled long distances to the Half Assini District Magistrate’s Court to seek justice on Monday were disappointed when they were told that it has suspended sittings infinitely.

They were, however, asked to go to the registrar of the Court for new dates and where their case would be transferred to.

A source at the court, who pleaded anonymity, told the Ghana News Agency at Half Assini in the Jomoro District on Monday.

He said the suspension order was given through a telephone message from the headquarters of the Judicial Service.

He said the suspension of sittings was as a result of the bad nature of the court building that had become a death trap.

According to the source, some inspection was carried out by a team from the Judicial Service sometime last year and recommended to the District Assembly that a new court building be put up but the project was yet to be executed.

The source said the message directed that the Magistrate should leave the area but the staff remain at post for a while.

According to him, the suspension order would be in force until a suitable place was found.

Among the disappointed people were officials of the Ghana Cocoa Board in Takoradi who are awaiting a judgment in a cocoa case.

The Jomoro District Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police DSP John Ferguson Dzineku, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, expressed concern about the closure.

The Police Commander said the action would create operational cost for the Police Service because suspects would have to be sent to courts outside the district.

DSP Dzineku said the Judicial Service should have approached the District Assembly to use its newly constructed Assembly Hall.

He said the Chief Justice should have looked for an alternative accommodation for the court instead of giving such an order, which is not in the interest of the people.”