A Supreme Court judge, Jones Dotse has appealed to the public, especially litigants to stay away from discussing their issues with court staff and judges in an attempt in a bid to influence them to tamper with justice.
According to him, such conducts are prohibited and he has admonished court staff to resist any of such temptations in order to maintain the sanctity of the judicial system.
Justice Dotse gave the advice when he inaugurated the new High Court at Sogakope in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region.
According to him, the recent judicial scandal that hit the nation has created an unfortunate impression in the minds of Ghanaians about judges, which does not augur well for the country especially the judicial service.
“It is so bad that the unfortunate impression has been created in the minds of Ghanaians that justice can be bought just by seeing the judges or the staffs of the court before it is heard publicly”.
The Supreme Court judge, who is commenting at the back of the recent judicial corruption exposé by Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI team, further stated: “Some people don't see the judge primarily to give money or the registrar to do this or that. But they feel that, if they are able to see the registrar or court clerk or the judge to tell him their story before they come to court, then they have an advantage.”
Justice Dotse again reminded and advised litigants that “A judge is supposed to be an impartial arbiter. Let him hear the case for the first time in court, let him know that, this is the merit of the case. In any case, we have several levels of courts, if you are not satisfied with the adjudication in the lower court, you can go upstairs on appeal”.
Justice Dotse however noted that the court should be the last option and that Ghanaians must try as much as possible to solve issues amicably at home before thinking of coming to the court.
“We will be happy if within a very short time we get to know that the Judge is delivering justice in the merit of each case”.
He also appealed to the court staff to resist any anyone who tries to tempt them in any way. They should also also be polite to people who come to seek justice at the court and also show humility to avoid any scandal.
On his part, the President of the Volta branch of the Ghana Bar Association, Kofi Aggey expressed satisfaction that justice has finally been brought to the door steps of the people of South Tongu district and advised that the new court should be the last resort for disputes.
The District Chief Executive for South Tongu, Samuel Mawuko Eworyi, said the idea of a court started with a simple desire to have a high court to promote delivery of justice and also boost the image of the district since Sogakope is an old district that should have had a high court earlier than now.
He thanked the Chief Justice for fulfilling her promise to the people of the district.
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