11 new magistrates sworn into office

The Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, has sworn into office 11 new Magistrates.
During the swearing in ceremony on Thursday March 8, she entreated the new magistrates and all Magistrates of Ghana to respect the fundamental human rights of all justice seekers who may appear before them in the course of their work.
She said respect for Human Rights is not only the duty of judges of the Superior courts of Judicature.
Justice Akuffo observed that due to the constitutional provision that puts the enforcement of fundamental human rights in the hands of the High Court and subsequently to the Supreme Court, Magistrates at the District Court level are known not to give heed to laws governing the enforcement of people’s basic rights. She stated that, that can no longer be the norm.
She also appealed to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the various regions to carry out their duty of providing suitable accommodation for Magistrates who are posted to serve in their Districts. Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo was of the view that most of the MMDAs in times past have not lived up to this responsibility.
Ms Akuffo further admonished the new Magistrates to manage their cases well to avoid a pile up of cases which will lead to congestion in their courts.
To that end, the Chief Justice pressed on the Magistrates to adopt modern case management methods to help them in this regard.