Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo made a significant announcement on Thursday, 4 April, regarding the Judicial Service’s plan to resume Court of Appeal sittings nationwide in April 2024.
This decision comes after the Judicial Service had halted some Court of Appeal sittings in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In her address to members of the Judicial Press Corps, Chief Justice Torkornoo shared details about the restructuring of the Court of Appeal in various regions. Specifically, the Court of Appeal in Kumasi will now serve Ashanti, Bono East and West, and Ahafo Regions.
Additionally, plans are being put in place to allow for virtual hearings at the Kumasi Court of Appeal to better cater to the needs of the people in Tamale and the northern part of the country.
Chief Justice Torkornoo also mentioned that cases from the Western North would be managed by the Court of Appeal in Kumasi due to proximity. Furthermore, the Central and Western Court of Appeal will be relocated to Sekondi instead of Cape Coast, as the facilities in Cape Coast were in need of infrastructure development.
The decisions made in reshaping the Court of Appeal system were a result of extensive consultations with key stakeholders in the justice delivery process, including Parliament and the Ghana Bar Association.
On a different note, Chief Justice Torkornoo highlighted the Judicial Service’s efforts in paralegal training and infrastructure development. She announced that a curriculum for paralegal training had been developed, and plans were underway to deliver training for trainees outside the judiciary. Furthermore, renovations of washrooms in the Supreme Court Building were at 70% completion as part of an ongoing project.
Looking ahead, Chief Justice Torkornoo announced that on 8 April 2024, she would outline her vision for effective justice delivery and launch an outreach program aimed at ensuring that justice is served seamlessly.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana
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