Controversy Over Weekend Court

Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood is the Chief Justice of Ghana. She introduced the weekend courts.

By William Yaw Owusu

Saturday, 05 April 2008
THE Judicial Service’s decision to introduce weekend court sittings has met with resistance from some members of the Greater Accra Regional Bar Association.

The Regional Bar is reported to have resolved to boycott the exercise which has already been endorsed by the Chief Justice, citing inconvenience among other things as their main reason.

They reportedly met on Thursday to prepare a resolution to be forwarded to the Chief Justice over the matter.

Frank Davies, President of the Greater Accra Regional branch of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), in an interview with a section of the media yesterday, confirmed the report and said the bench did not consult them over the decision to hold court sittings at weekends.

He was reported as saying that the executive of the bar will meet the Chief Justice to resolve the issue.

A number of the lawyers that the Ghanaian Times interviewed on phone had mixed reactions.

Yonny Kulendi who was for the initiative said it is meant to take care of emergencies, adding "this will surely expand the frontiers of the administration of justice.

"This initiative will make available to lawyers the opportunity to come before a judge on a weekend in an emergency."

He said it will also prevent the detention of suspects beyond 48 hours and give lawyers the opportunity to seek court orders to check arbitrariness.

"It is a progressive move. In some developed countries you do not only have weekend judges but night courts".

Mr Kulendi urged his colleagues to exercise restraint and treat the issue with maximum caution.

A source at the Judicial Service Headquarters in Accra told the Times that the initiative does not make it mandatory for every lawyer or all the courts to convene.

"The Chief Justice by the powers vested in her selects a weekend judge to be in charge of all emergencies."

It will be recalled that on March 31, the Judicial Service issued a press release to the effect that weekend courts will start sitting in Accra from today.

The release signed by Mrs Regina Apotsi, Judicial Secretary said the courts will deal with specific cases including domestic violence and revenue claims by state agencies.

It said the courts will operate from the premises of the District and Juvenile Courts near the Ministries from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The release further said the weekend courts will be extended to other regions in the country in due course.