Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo has inaugurated a new High Court in Mampong, Ashanti Region.
The one-storey building, equipped with two courtrooms, will serve Juaben, Effiduase Asokore, Nsuta, Ejura Sekyedumase, and Agona.
The facility includes two Judges’ Chambers, offices for Cashiers and Bailiffs, a docket room, an ADR room, and washrooms for staff and court users. It also features a five KVA Solar Power system and a 40 KVA generator as backup, along with a borehole to ensure a reliable water supply.
In a statement issued by the Director of Communications of the Judicial Service, J.R. Ampong-Fosu, Chief Justice Torkornoo emphasized that access to justice is a critical value for the nation, highlighting the importance of ensuring that all citizens, particularly the vulnerable, can access justice.
“Without justice, there can be no order, without order there can be no peace, without peace, there can be no prosperity. And so, for every nation that seeks to go forward, it is critical that access to justice is given to all and sundry, especially, the vulnerable.”
Chief Justice Torkornoo said, “The edifice which has a long history is structured in such a way that the physically impaired can have access to it…. It contains facilities necessary for administration of justice in modern times.”
She urged the staff of the Judicial Service who will be working at the new court to avoid any form of malpractice and to conduct their duties with integrity.
”The Judicial Service that functions with integrity, is the kind of service that the people of Ghana deserve. This is a Service in which Bailiffs do not exploit citizens. It is a Service that Registrars do not exploit citizens. It is a service in which justice delivery is done in an environment of transparency, propriety, independence, competence, diligence and appropriateness,” she said.
Chief Justice Torkornoo paid tribute to her predecessors, Chief Justices Sophia Akuffo and Anin Yeboah, for their roles in making the opening of the new High Court building in Mampong a reality.
She also commended the Paramount Chief of Mampong, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, and the District Assembly Common Fund Administrator, Madam Irene Naa Torshie Addo, for their invaluable support.
Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, who is also the President of the Mampong Traditional Council, appealed to the Chief Justice to assign more staff to the new court and requested additional courts with the necessary logistics, particularly a Circuit Court.
“I would like to appeal to your good office to provide Mampong with a Circuit Court in addition. The Mampong Courts serve a very wide geographical area, as far as Ejura, Attebubu and Kajeji areas. With the provision of a Circuit Court, therefore, other lower cases could be handled to ease the pressure on the Magistrate Court as it is now.”
On his part, the Mampong Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Thomas Appiah Kubi, praised the Mamponghene “for his generosity in releasing this land for the construction of this edifice” and hoped it would be well maintained.
Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, the Member of Parliament for Mampong, expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their significant contributions to the construction of the new courthouse.
The Chief Justice was accompanied by Justice Cyra Pamela C. A. Koranteng, the Judicial Secretary, and other members of the Bench.
The event was attended by the Queen Mother of Mampong, Nana Agyakoma Difie II, heads of institutions and agencies, the clergy, and members of the Mampong Municipal Assembly.