The Chief Justice (CJ), His Lordship Paul Baffoe Bonnie, has commissioned the long-awaited Okere District Court at Adukrom in the Eastern Region.
The commissioning ceremony took place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and was attended by several dignitaries who joined the Chief Justice.
Among them were the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey; former Member of Parliament for Okere and former Local Government Minister, Dan Kwaku Botwe; District Chief Executive (DCE), Eric Ayettey; and the incumbent Member of Parliament for the area, Daniel Nana Addo Kenneth.
In his address, His Lordship Paul Baffoe Bonnie underscored the importance of district courts, describing them as the foundation of Ghana’s justice system and vital to strengthening public trust in the rule of law.
“When justice is accessible at the district level, public confidence in the rule of law is strengthened, and this court will ensure that residents of Okere can now access judicial services within their own district,” he said.
The Chief Justice charged the Magistrate designated to the facility to administer justice with integrity, patience, and courage.
He stressed that anyone who seeks redress in court does so with the hope of returning home with nothing but justice.
He further called for collective responsibility between stakeholders and residents of the district to prioritize the maintenance culture of the facility so it can serve its intended purpose.
According to him, he would not be happy to see the edifice in a deplorable state within a few years, given the investment committed to the project.
“You see this beautiful edifice here, we don’t want a situation where we will come back in three years time to find the place in tatters,” the CJ warned.
His Lordship also entreated the people to play a watchdog role over the property to help maintain it, explaining that the public constitutes government, contrary to the perception that government only refers to those at the Jubilee House.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Okere, Eric Williams Ayettey, expressed excitement at the official commissioning, describing its timing as appropriate to end years of struggles for residents who had to travel long distances to seek justice.
He backed the CJ’s call for collaboration to maintain the facility for future generations.
On her part, the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, extended appreciation to the Chief Justice and the Judiciary for upholding the vision of decentralizing the justice system in the country.
