The Supreme Court has in a unanimous decision ruled that courts are to sit on weekends and public holidays to deal with issues that affect personal liberty.
The ruling made by the seven-member panel presided over by Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo is to take effect in six months.
A private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, in September 2016 dragged the Attorney General to the apex court demanding a declaration that portions of the Holidays Act that bar the courts from siting on those occasions to deal with cases that affect personal liberties are unconstitutional.
The court in its ruling also asked the judicial secretary to within six months make arrangements for overtime pay for officers of the courts, especially District courts, who will work on weekends and holidays for that purpose.
The court also directed the Chief Justice, the Inspector General of Police, Registrars of the various Courts to ensure that the ruling of the Court is brought to the attention of all interested parties to ensure its enforcement.
Source: graphic.com.gh
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HALLELUJAH!!!Slowly, slowly we are getting there!!! God Bless the JUDGES for once...next is all criminal cases must finish within 12 months from date of arrest and all civil cases must finish with 24 months from date of filing...slowly, slowly we are getting there!!!
Kudos Martin Kpebu, yOu Know your stuff
Oyiwa, so now the unscrupulous police officers who intentionally arrest people on Thursday evening or Friday evening so as to be able to keep you in cells as punishment will have their work cut out. EOCO and BNI should be reeling against this ruling. Indeed Martin has done a lot for the ordinary person rather than these radio and tv lawyers who have not shown any legal mettle. You see, the cases Martin sends to the Supreme Courts bind he judges so much so that they cannot use their bias.