“As more and more people have needed the aid of our courts to resolve conflicts, enforce agreements and seek redress,
             the need for more infrastructure has been emphasized.  So, over the last nearly two decades, the Judicial Service of
             Ghana has embarked on extensive reforms aimed at correcting these shortfalls in infrastructure. Access to justice at the
             grassroots has been one of the key objectives. A significant component of these reform initiatives have been the construction
             and refurbishment of courts and installation of modern ICT Equipment to assist with speeding up court trials” she said.

            Justice Gertrude Torkornoo was speaking at the inauguration of a Circuit Court in Ada, in the Ada East District of the Greater Accra Region.

              
               New Court Room

           She also used the opportunity to sensitize and interact with citizens after officially inaugurating the court.
           This sensitization exercise, the first of its kind, was under the theme “Improving Justice Delivery through Community Engagement”.
           Justice Torkornoo educated the people on Court Connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (CCADR), the jurisdictions of the Courts
           and the role of Legal Aid Commission in the justice delivery system. She also encouraged them to pay appropriate fees to authorized
           court personnel and demand receipts and channel their grievances through the Complaints Units of the Judicial Service.

                   

             For her part, the District Chief Executive for Ada East, Hon. Sarah Dugbakie Pobee, said the occasion marked “a significant
             milestone in the administration of justice in their beloved District as the people of Ada have gone through some difficulties in
             their bid to seek resolution to some legal issues beyond the District Court”.  The visibly elated Hon. Pobee was grateful that
             the financial implications and risk of travelling to Ashaiman or Tema for cases to be heard had been resolved.

                  

             The establishment of this Circuit Court reflects our determination to ensure that justice is accessible to all, regardless
             of their social status, wealth or background”, she said.

             In a related development, a District Court has been inaugurated at Baatsonaa, in the Tema West Municipality of the
             Greater Accra Region, where Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo implored staff to give meaning to the construction
             of the court, build confidence and inspire trust for the people in their work.

                   
                   CJ in the middle assisted by MCE (left) and other dignitaries to cut the tape


              “I urge the staff of the Judicial Service of Ghana, whose work will give meaning to the construction of this court,
              to see themselves as ambassadors of the Service and of the very concept of justice itself. People will interpret
              what justice is by how you conduct yourself. Let all who come here feel welcome and reassured that the law is
              here to work for and with them”, she said.







                    
                   Justice Gertrude Torkornoo unveiling the plaque

              The Chief Justice also conducted a sensitization exercise and gave inhabitants of Baatsonaa the opportunity
              to ask her questions and seek clarity on matters bothering them.  

                         
                    Participants asking questions during the sensitization programme

              The representative of the Nungua Mantse, Nii Gbetse II, commended the Chief Justice for the education and for the
               inauguration of the District Court. He was hopeful that “justice and the rule of law would prevail in the Court”.

                  
                     The representative of the Nungua Mantse, Nii Gbetse II, delivering his message

                The two Courts; Circuit Court Ada and District Court Baatsonaa, are part of the Government of Ghana’s agenda of
                constructing One Hundred Courthouses nationwide; a project which began in 2020.  

                      
                         Hon. Anna Naa Adukwei Addo , Chief Executive, Tema West Municipal Assembly making her point

                   Both courts have spacious well ventilated courtrooms, offices for the respective Registrars, Bailiffs and Cashiers,
                   washrooms for staff and court users, male and female cells, solar power for essential power load, standby generators
                   as well as boreholes for sustainable water supply.

                   
                      Her Worship Bernice Ackon, Magistrate, responding to some questions from the participants

                They also have dedicated space for Court Connected Alternative Dispute Resolution and equipped with Direct
                Transcription System- a system that allows for court proceedings to be captured in real time, electric fencing to
                boost security and ramps to aid movement of persons with disability.

                        
                                                                                                A cross section of participants at the event

              Both events were witnessed by a number of Assembly Members, representatives of interest groups, chiefs, the clergy,
              local authority and inhabitants of the communities