SONA 2024: Attorney-General Has Saved Ghana ¢10 Trillion- Prez
The country’s current Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has been commended by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for saving the country from judgment debts worth GH¢10 trillion.
Describing the output of the Attorney-General as “very effective”, he said the A-G has competently and successfully defended the country against numerous civil litigations.
“The Attorney-General has continued, in a very effective manner, the tradition under this administration of contesting every civil litigation against the state, and has avoided the numerous judgment debts that used to be given against the state.
“The Office, as a result, has saved the country over ten trillion Ghana cedis (GH¢10 trillion).”
The President was addressing Parliament on the Nation on February 27, 2024, when he made the disclosure.
On progress on the judiciary, the President said a total of seventy-six (76) Judges and Magistrates including the Chief Justice were added to the Judiciary arm.
It comprised two new Justices of the Supreme Court, 23 new High Court Judges, 29 new Circuit Court Judges, and 21 new Magistrates.
He said three additional Justices were appointed to the Supreme Court to replace three (3) Justices who have retired from the Court this year.
Meanwhile, he said 262 staff were recruited to address some of the human resource gaps created as a result of the newly established courts.
On judicial infrastructure, he said as of 31st January 2024, 67 courthouses had been inaugurated for use across the country with 12 more completed for inauguration by the end of February 2024.
Additionally, he said 21 other projects are at various stages of completion and are expected to be completed and inaugurated before May 2024.
“In addition, one hundred and twenty-one (121) residential units have been constructed for judges throughout the country. Further, twenty (20) fully furnished 4-bedroom units, together with social amenities, have been constructed for Justices of the Court of Appeal in Kumasi.”
President Akufo-Addo also touted what he called a comprehensive digitalization drive in justice delivery.
According to him, a virtual court system was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and was rolled out to seventeen (17) courts, and then, subsequently, to nineteen (19) High Courts for the smooth hearing of court cases.
“By the end of December 2023, one hundred and sixty (160) courts had been equipped with devices for the real-time transcription of cases, in addition to fifty-one (51) courts piloting the paperless court system in Accra. The integration of real-time transcription devices in one hundred and sixty (160) courts has revolutionised the way in which court proceedings are recorded and documented.”
