Half Assini magistrate court stays open

Half Assini (W/R), Aug. 4, GNA – The Judicial Service has rescinded its decision to close down the Half Assini Magistrate’s Court in the Jomoro District of the western Region.

Justice Isaac Duose, Appeal Court Judge in-charge of the Western and Central Regions announced this at a meeting with the staff of the service at Half Assini.

Justice Duose said the order for the suspension of sittings of the court was due to a report received by the Chief Justice from an internal audit report.

He said the report stated that the building of the Half Assini District Magistrate’s Court had become a death trap and not suitable for sittings, hence the order for the suspension.

Justice Duose said his visit to Half Assini was to formally announce the closure of the court but on his arrival, he has come to realize that the report was not accurate.

Justice Duose said the court building rather needs a little renovation but this does not deserve the suspension of sittings or a closure.

He urged the District Assembly to construct a new building for the court since the current building had become weak.

It would recalled that a large number of people who travelled to the Half Assini District Magistrate’s Court to seek justice last Monday were disappointed when they were told that it had suspended sittings.

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

He said the action would increase operational costs for the Police Service as suspects would have to be sent to other courts for judgement.