Spend 5% Common Fund allocation on courts – CJ C’tee

A four-member committee put together by Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, to collect data on the poor state of district and lower courts in the country, has proposed that metropolitan, municipal and district Assemblies be compelled to use part of their five per cent common fund allocation, on court infrastructure.

Committee Chairman, Dr Eric Oduro-Osae, said the move will enhance justice delivery in Ghana.

“We have to review the common fund formula, the district assembly common fund, which is not less than five per cent of national revenue is a fund that is available. We can advocate a review of the utilisation guidelines to make it mandatory for local government to spend part of their common fund on court and other infrastructure required by the court for effective justice delivery system.

“District assemblies are assessed on an annual basis, we are also proposing that the current assessment of the district assemblies, which we call district assemblies performance assessment tool, should have an indicator, the extent to which district has supported the local court.

“We’re also recommending a modification of the standard operating procedures to ensure that magistrates and judges effectively support MMDCEs in the implementation of their by-laws relating to the internally generated revenue”, Dr Oduro-Osae said.

Source: Ghana/ClassFMonline.com