Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, has appealed to the Chief Justice to consider increasing the number of high courts, to make justice delivery accessible to the people in the Region.
He said the region with its high population had only two high courts in Sekondi and Tarkwa, and it would be vital to add more to the existing ones to enhance the justice delivery system in the area.
He made the appeal at the 2024 Annual Chief Justice’s Forum, held in Takoradi, on the theme: “Building the Pillars of Justice through Leadership, Innovation and Technology”.
The forum was attended by some members of the Ghana Bar Association, Justices, traditional and religious leaders, heads of departments, and media among others.
It provided a platform for the Judiciary and Judicial Service to account to the people regarding how justice was being administered and solicit feedback on improving justice administration
Mr Darko-Mensah stated that the region needed a considerable number of high courts to make justice delivery accessible to the people and they were hoping to receive the firm support of the Chief Justice on this very worthy path.
He said his office was prepared to work closely with the Supervising High Court Judge and the Judicial Secretary for an assessment to be conducted and a comprehensive report submitted to the Chief Justice’s office for action.
He called for the need for stakeholders in the legal system to ensure continuous professional education for practicing members of the bar and bench in International Maritime Law and related courses.
Mr Darko-Mensah stated that it would help the country to further strengthen its grip on the evolving oil and gas industry in Ghana.
He said as a region producing a hundred per cent of Ghana’s oil, they had taken a keen interest in the maritime dispute, and it would be a brilliant idea to pilot the training of members of the Bar starting from the Western Region branch of the Ghana Bar Association in this interesting area of the law.
He noted that once they had oil and ratified the Vienna Convention on the Law of the Sea, they needed Ghanaian expertise in that area.
GNA