The Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Elizabeth K.T Sackey, has accompanied the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin Yeboah, to inaugurate the Gbese District Court in the Central Business District of Accra. 

The new court house which is equipped with solar power, a generator and a borehole to ensure regular and uninterrupted power and water supply is expected to speed up and enhance justice delivery in the country. 

Speaking at the inauguration on Thursday, May 18, the AMA boss expressed gratitude to the Ga Traditional Council, especially the Gbese Mantse and Adonten of the Ga State, Nii Dr Ayi-Bonte II, who provided the land for the project.

Mayor Sackey said the city was bedevilled with challenges such as land litigation, chieftaincy disputes, petty crimes and drug peddling, and was hopeful that the new court would help address all these social cankers.

"Accra Metropolis is a convergence point for people from all walks of life and therefore comes with its challenges such as land litigation, chieftaincy disputes, petty crimes, drug peddling among others...Therefore, with the construction of this courthouse and other courts in the Region, I am very hopeful that the afore-mentioned challenges would be a thing of the past," she said. 

She disclosed that the AMA was working with some key institutions to establish a sanitation court to enable the Assembly speedily prosecute sanitation-related offences and urged residents to use the legal and judicial processes to address disputes stressing that "violence will not and should not be an option in seeking redress."

She also used the opportunity to call for unity among Ghanaians to make the city safe and ensure that the rights of individuals especially marginalized groups, women and children were upheld. 

According to Justice Anin Yeboah, court buildings had been constructed in other parts of the capital to deal with the lack, and distressingly poor state of court infrastructure to promote justice delivery.

He stated that the unavailability of lands in Accra to build court­houses was a bane and therefore commended Nii Dr Ayi-Bonte II for the provision of land.

The Chief Justice said the judi­ciary was committed to building a system of justice that assured litigants of efficiency and timely delivery of justice.

Justice Anin Yeboah also assured that his office would ensure that the new courts did not only inspire productivity but reflected the authority and dignity of the judiciary adding that courthouses were national assets which should be cherished and maintained appropri­ately for posterity.

The Chief Justice ended his speech by urging the staff and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) to adopt the highest maintenance culture for both the facility and equipment.

Nii Dr Ayi-Bonte II for his part said the Gbese stool was ready to provide land in any of its areas to the government for the establishment of courts and police stations to improve sanity and develop­ment in the area.

“Wherever you want to build a courthouse, let me know and I, Gbese Mantse and Adonten of the Ga State, will give it to you,” he stated.

He commended the Chief Justice for spearheading the court projects and pledged his support for the judiciary.