The Supervising High Court Judge for the Volta Region, Mr Justice Nicholas Agbevor, has stated that he once declined an order summoning him before the “Nogokpo” shrine in the Volta Region to explain why he had given a particular ruling on a case he adjudicated.
The incident, he said, occurred at Dzodze, where he was then sitting as a circuit court judge, when a letter was sent to his chambers ordering him to report at the “Nogokpo” shrine.
But, according to him, he did not honour the invitation. Recall
Mr Justice Agbevor made the recall when he addressed guests at the inauguration of a district magistrate court at Dzolokpuita in the Ho West District last Tuesday.
He, therefore, asked litigants to be tolerant and accept decisions taken by the country’s courts of judicature. According to him, litigants’ use of unorthodox means to pressurise judicial staff in the course of their duties often dampened the staff’s spirit and consequently eroded confidence in the judicial system.
He also cautioned political and traditional authorities against interfering in the court system, since that put magistrates and judges in a dilemma because their work was based on documented laws. GBA
The President of the Volta Regional branch of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Mr Kofi Age, said litigation was expensive. He, therefore, advised litigants to first consider seeking redress to their grievances at the courts of chiefs and elders in order to save time, money and resources in the pursuit of court cases. He also asked litigants not to corrupt the court system by rushing to the courts with trivialities at the least provocation, adding that “resources used in seeking court action could be spent on running the home, as well as paying school fees.” Responsibility
The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Mr Francis Ganyaglo, said it was the fundamental responsibility of municipal and district assemblies to establish magistrate courts to bring justice to the doorstep of the people. He asked court officials to exercise their authority and perform their functions without fear, favour and prejudice. DCE
Mr Sammy Ewoade, the Ho-West District Chief Executive, said the enforcement of the law would engender and trigger sustainable development when properly and realistically pursued.
He added that the new court would, therefore, help deepen the decentralisation process, as the adjudication of justice and settlement of cases and disagreements would be easy and expedited.
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