ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE LADY CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, JUSTICE GERTRUDE SACKEY TORKORNOO, ON THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE COURT COMPLEX, ATEBUBU, ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023
Source: judicial_service_of_ghana
Date: 2023-12-31

ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE LADY CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA, JUSTICE GERTRUDE SACKEY TORKORNOO, ON THE OCCASION OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE COURT COMPLEX, ATEBUBU, ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023 My Lords, Judges and Magistrates, Vice President, Bono East Regional House of Chief – Nana Owusu Sakyi III Regional Minister for Bono East – Hon. Kwasi Adu Gyan Hon. Member of Parliament for Atebubu-Amantin, Hon. Sanja Nanja Paramount Chief of Atebubu Traditional Area, Ohempon Yeboah Asiamah Municipal Chief Executive, Atebubu-Amantin Municipal Assembly– Hon. Edward Owusu Distinguished Invited Guests, The Media, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning, It gives me great pleasure to be here with you, in this beautiful, serene town of Atebubu, the capital of Atebubu-Amantin Municipal Assembly in the Bono East Region, to inaugurate this modern twin court facility. Now it will be a triplet inauguration. I thank you all distinguished invited guests for taking time out of your busy schedules to join us for this important occasion. My learning informs me that the Municipality which is predominantly agrarian, shares a border with Pru East and Pru West in the North, Sene West on the West and Nkoranza North and the three districts of Ejura – Sekyeredumase, Sekyere East and Sekyere West to the East and can boast of some notable towns such as Amantin, Bresuano, Mempeasem, Jato Zongo, Dobidi Nkwanta, New Konkrompe, Sampa, Afrefreso, and Asanteboa. Information available is also that, this Municipality which falls in the middle and forest belt, with an estimated population of over 141,000 inhabitants and a total land area of approximately 1,996 sq km² thrives on the water from the River Pru for its sustenance. I am also informed that the salubrious climate of Atebubu is responsible for the Municipality’s rich soil and lush vegetation cover which support the cultivation of cashew, yam, mangoes, maize, tomatoes, pepper, garden eggs and rice on both subsistence and commercial basis for its local economy and the national economy as well. So we are in the center of great potential, and great resources. Ladies and gentlemen, the journey to this day which we are proud and happy about, began in the early part of 2018 when the former Chief Justice, Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo, on her visit to the old District Court just close by, during her nationwide tour of courts in Ghana, evaluated that the court was not quite ‘fit for the purpose’ of justice delivery. The old court building failed the test that a court house should exude elegance and nobility, be comfortable, and provide a working environment conducive to productivity. It must also reflect the authority and dignity of not only the Judiciary, but the State. The old facility did not have adequate offices and washrooms for Court Staff and clients. The court room itself was a big, open hall which operated in the full glare of passersby, compromising the security of the Magistrate and Court Staff, including court users. Thankfully, two years later, the Atebubu-Amantin Municipal Assembly listened to the Judiciary and on 2 nd July, 2020, the sod was cut for work to begin not only on a new District Court but also a Circuit Court. In doing so, the Assembly implemented the double Courtroom prototype design developed by the Judicial Service. And here, I wish to place to place on record that The Atebubu Amantin Municipal Assembly is the second Assembly in the Bono East Region after the Kintampo Municipal Assembly, to implement this double Courtroom prototype design which was circulated to the MMDAs from the Judicial Service. Courts must follow a design that respond to the requirement for a court to have not only a Judge, but a cashier, court clerk, bailiff, court recorder, process clerk, interpreter and a registrar. The necessity for a Circuit Court here in Atebubu had become acute after its rapid population increase led to its elevation as the Municipal Capital. To compound matters, the only Circuit Court in this catchment area for inhabitants was the Circuit Court, Techiman which is a long journey of 142.5 kilometres, clearly undermining the very concept of access to justice for those who needed the service of the court. Today, the brand new Circuit Court we are inaugurating will serve not only the people of Atebubu but also the neighbouring Districts of Yeji and Kwame Danso. The new, modern twin court facility constructed with Internally Generated Funds of the Atebubu-Amantin Municipal Assembly, comes complete with en-suite chambers for both the Circuit Court Judge and Magistrate, Registrar’s Office, Recorder’s Office, Cashier’s Office, Docket Room, Bailiffs’ Office and Washrooms for Staff and Court Users. I would urge the Municipal Assembly to quickly construct the cells for the two courts so that criminal justice delivery can also commence in earnest after today’s inauguration. Let me take the opportunity to share certain thought about law. Law gives three promises - The first promise law brings to society is the quality of order, because law serves to provide direction for everybody and every action. Thus if a law is set and everyone under its authority obeys it, communities made up of different people with different desires and inclinations can through that obedience, organize themselves in orderly fashion, and enjoy the beauty of harmony and achievement, as we are experiencing today. After order, the next chief promise of law is justice and fairness. Justice is the quality of satisfaction that people must have, when they are given what they deserve in accordance with what the law relating to their action or transaction has directed. When the rule of law is established in any society, it delivers another promise, apart from order and justice as already discussed. This is the promise of prosperity and development. The rule and protection of law therefore serve as the most positive building rungs for the steady development of any society. It is therefore my hope that the presence of this court is able to bring more and more people to settle and do business in this beautiful community. I also need to congratulate the Honourable MCE Edward Owusu for his dynamism, leadership and focus in getting this court inaugurated before the new year. For those who will be working in these court buildings, the Judge, Magistrate and Court Staff, I urge you, in your words and in your conduct, to live up to the highest ideals of the law. Let all who come here feel welcome and reassured that the law is here to work for and with them. Let no one feel discouraged or reluctant to use the law. We must ensure that we are not only fair and just, but are seen by all to be so, so they will feel confident in seeking redress from these buildings and what they represent. Let me end by once again thanking the Atebubu-Amantin Municipal Assembly for delivering this project and to all of you for being a part of today’s ceremony. May God bless us all. 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