CJ shuts down 7 courts over renewed Bawku conflict

The Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has ordered the closure of seven courts in the Upper East Region in the wake of escalating violence in the chieftaincy-related conflict in the area.

The measure, the Chief Justice said, was to ensure the safety of judges, staff and court users.

The affected courts are the High, Circuit and District courts in Bolgatanga as well as District courts in Zuarungu, Zebilla, Garu and Bongo respectively.

Already the Circuit and District courts in Bawku had been closed since the conflict resumed in November 2021, compelling residents in need of court services to resort to those in nearby districts.

The closure of the courts follows heightened insecurity in the region as a result of a deadly gunfire attack by unidentified gunmen who opened fire on travellers along the Bolgatanga-Tamale highway last Sunday, October 27, 2024.

In the sad incident, some people were killed while two vehicles were burnt, resulting in heightened fear in that area and  Bawku as well.

The latest clashes were as a result of the return of a rival chief to Bawku. The new developments have brought the once vibrant Bawku town to a standstill as residents cannot carry out their normal activities freely.

To tackle the situation, last Monday, the government was compelled to impose a 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. curfew on Bawku and its surrounding communities.

Closure

A memorandum dated October 29, 2024, and signed by the Judicial Secretary, Justice Pamela C.A. Koranteng announcing the closure of the courts, said the attention of the Chief Justice had been drawn to concerns expressed by lawyers and other stakeholders about the situation in Bawku and its environs.

It said: “In order to ensure the safety of judges, staff, lawyers and court users, the Chief Justice has ordered the closure of the affected courts with immediate effect until further notice”.

The statement urged registrars to keep all assets of the courts safe and further entreated the staff to stay safe.

Visit

During a visit by the Daily Graphic to three of the affected courts in Bolgatanga yesterday, all of them had been locked as the staff had adhered to their closure and subsequently stayed away from work.

The Daily Graphic team observed that only security officers were manning the premises, but they declined an interview.

The vibrant activities usually witnessed around the court premises  daily  were absent at the time of the visit due to the closure as the entire environment had turned into a ‘ghost’ area.

Also, information gathered indicated that some people and clients who were unaware of the announcement thronged the courts to seek  various services yesterday in the morning, only to be greeted with their closure.

The disappointed court users who had travelled from far and near to seek legal and other services had no option but to return to their respective destinations.

Writer’s email; gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh