4 out of 7 courts closed in Upper East reopened

Four courts that had been closed due to the longstanding Bawku chieftaincy conflict reopened to the public yesterday.

The reopened courts include the High, Circuit, and District Courts in Bolgatanga, as well as the District Court in Bongo. 

However, the District Courts in Garu, Zebilla, and Zuarungu remain closed, as outlined in a recent memorandum.

The initial closures, ordered by Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, were a precautionary response to increasing violence in Bawku and surrounding areas. This decision aimed to safeguard the well-being of judges, staff, and court users. 

The Bawku Circuit and District Courts had already been closed since November 2021, leaving residents dependent on nearby courts for legal services.

In a memorandum dated October 29, 2024, Judicial Secretary Justice Pamela C. A. Koranteng highlighted the Chief Justice’s concern, noting that lawyers and stakeholders had voiced fears regarding the ongoing instability in the area. 

The closure followed a security incident on October 27, 2024, when unidentified gunmen attacked travelers along the Bolgatanga-Tamale highway.

A subsequent memorandum dated November 8, 2024, announced the reopening of four of these courts by the Chief Justice’s directive, with registrars instructed to resume operations.

According to Daily Graphic reporters, the reopened courts in Bolgatanga were in full operation when they visited. Court users arrived for hearings, while others attended to different transactions at the court offices. 

Vendors and stationery sellers near the courts also welcomed the reopening.