The General Secretary of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), Abdulai Yakubu, has urged authorities to strengthen security at courts nationwide to safeguard judges, staff, and litigants.
His call comes after a violent incident at the Kwame Danso District Court, where a mob stormed the courtroom during proceedings and forcibly freed accused persons in the case of The Republic vs. Isaac Kwabena Mintah and Two Others. The case involves charges of unlawful damage, stealing, and assault under Act 29.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Thursday, December 11, Yakubu criticised the Police Service for failing to pick up and act on intelligence that could have helped prevent the attack. He noted that the same group had earlier attacked the local police station.
He stressed the need for a full review of security measures across all courts and called on administrators and security agencies to introduce screening and stronger preventive systems.
“We need to revise our protocols to ensure that people are screened before they enter courtrooms. Of course, we have the devices at the Court Complex and the Supreme Court to ensure that people go through certain protocol but then if the Regional Administrators and the Registrars access their courts and the police also realise that some courts are prone to some attacks then similar security checks could be instituted at the courts to ensure that people are screened before they enter,” he said.
Meanwhile, JUSAG has called on the Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, to immediately close the Kwame Danso District Court following Wednesday’s attack.
According to the association, the mob—armed with dangerous objects—disrupted proceedings, vandalised court property, and forced staff to flee for safety. Some workers reportedly locked themselves in their offices as the attackers attempted to break into the magistrate’s chambers. Order was restored only after reinforcements arrived from the Atebubu Police Unit.
JUSAG says the magistrate and staff remain traumatised and unsafe at the facility, warning that the increasing number of attacks on judicial institutions poses a serious threat to the administration of justice.
In the interim, the association is advising staff of the Kwame Danso District Court to stay away from work until adequate security is guaranteed.
