Appeal Court to reopen soon countrywide

Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo says the Court of Appeal will soon reopen across the country to increase access to justice delivery. She said litigants out the capital city, have no access to justice if appeals are heard only in Accra.

She said in addition to sittings in Kumasi, the Court of Appeal, will also sit in three other regions. Justice Torkornoo on Thursday met with the Judicial press correspondents in a discussion on what the judiciary has achieved with its core mandate, under her leadership.

In 2019, sitting at the Court of Appeal in the regions, was suspended when Covid-19 struck. After the pandemic, the Court in the regions is yet to resume sitting. The designated regions where the Court of Appeal will be opened are the Volta Region, Koforidua in the Eastern Region and Sekondi in the Western Region. Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, said the decision to reopen the Court of Appeal comes after extensive consultations with stakeholders.

On the court shift system which is currently being piloted in some courts in Accra, the Chief Justice said, the system will be replicated in other courts across the country, following its success on evaluation. She mentioned Obuasi in the Ashanti region as one of the towns that need such attention.

Answering questions on the expedited hearing of the application that was filed against the Speaker of Parliament on the approval of reassigned Ministers and Deputy Ministers, while similar applications have not been attended to, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo explained that the Attorney-General’s speedy response to the suit which was served on his office, made the application ripe for hearing.

She said the Attorney-General considered that the importance of the matter further requested an expedited hearing notice which was granted, and indicated that, that is allowed when parties respond early to an application.

Expanding on her vision for the Judiciary, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, said she aims to ensure that all staff of the Judicial Service get some form of legal education, in order to work efficiently. On Monday April 8, Chief Justice Torkonoo will launch her vision for her tenure in office and also an outreach to help in justice delivery.