Justice delivery
He admitted that the Judiciary’s journey has not been smooth sailing, though it has worked hard over the years to improve the legal and constitutional framework within which it operates to uphold the highest standards in Justice delivery. He observed that ’the evidently deplorable state of most of our court structures and residences of Justices in administering justice has been a major challenge” to effective Justice delivery.
Justice Anin Yeboah noted the new residential complex was pleasant welcome news for the Judiciary as it would ensure that Judges could be deployed to other parts of the country for effective justice delivery.
The Chief Justice thanked government for ensuring the completion of the project, and similar ones which were ongoing across the country, through the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) and the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF). He was also grateful to the Asantehene; Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for making available seven acres of prime land for the project and the contractors for the expeditious execution of the project.
Justice Anin Yeboah revealed that the Kumasi residential complex will require about 2,500 staff, and therefore made a passionate appeal to the Ministry of Finance to grant financial clearance for the recruitment process to begin.
He disclosed that land had been acquired in Adenta in Greater Accra for a similar facility to be constructed for the Judiciary.
The new residential complex located at Danyame, Kumasi is a gated community of 20 units of fully furnished four-bedroom town houses each with a two-bedroom outhouse. The residential complex also has a swimming pool, a seven-bedroom guest house, a club house, tennis court and gymnasium. The complex also includes two apartment blocks made up of six three-bedroom residential units for other staff of the Judicial Service.
The 20 town houses, located in a gated community, will be inhabited by Justices of the Court of Appeal serving the Northern sector of the country — Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, Savannah, North East, Upper East, Northern and Upper West regions.
The project which began in April 2021 was completed on schedule within 18 months.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who inaugurated the facility gave the firm assurance that his government will do more for the Judiciary to advance the rule of law in the country.
“We will continue to implement policies that will advance the rule of law and, thereby, reinforce the confidence of the people in a country governed by the rule of law,” He inaugurated the project in the presence of Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Anin Yeboah, and immediate past Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Sophia Akuffo.
He was hopeful that the residential complex will motivate the Judiciary to work even harder to promote justice and the rule of law in the country.
“Government, since the assumption of my office, has introduced a number of policy measures to help bridge the technology gap in the administration of justice. ...We launched the e-justice system, which is leveraging technology, in the delivery of justice,” he indicated.
Infrastructure
This, he said, the government was doing by constructing 120 courts and 150 bungalows for the Judiciary across the country.
Seventy per cent of these ongoing projects, he stressed, were completed and urged the Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Anin Yeboah, to take over the facilities and post officers to begin working with “immediate effect.”
The President lamented the situation where citizens in parts of the country are compelled to travel long distances to gain access to the courts, a development he said weakens the rule of law.
President Akufo-Addo expressed his government’s appreciation to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for his immense support for the project including his “generous donation” of a 7-acre land for the project.
He also commended the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), Irene Naa Torshie Addo Lartey, the Chief Justice, the immediate past Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Sophia Akuffo, the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) and the contractors for their efforts in ensuring that the project was delivered on schedule.
In an address, the Ashanti Regional Minster, Mr. Simon Osei Mensah, praised the Chief Justice for his active supervision of the project right from the sod-cutting ceremony by the President last year.
"I don't see the project as residential facilities but as a community on its own," he expressed.
He admonished the Judiciary to properly maintain and put the facilities in the complex to good use to ensure a long life span.
For his part, the Deputy Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr. Collins Ntim, who represented his Minister, Mr. Daniel Kweku Botwe, noted that the residential complex will facilitate the adjudication of justice in the northern sector of the country.