By Emmanuel Koffa
GRANDCESS, GRAND KRU COUNTY-The building hosting Grandcess Magisterial Court is seen standing in ruins, causing frustration among residents over the absence of a functioning Magisterial Court.
The Grandcess Magisterial Court, which handles various civil and criminal matters at a local level, has been non-operational for an extended period, prompting fears about a decline in law and order in that part of Grand Kru County.
Rural Reporters News Network Correspondent who visited the area quotes local leaders and citizens as saying the lack of judicial services has hindered their ability to resolve disputes, access legal recourse, and ensure public safety.
Grandcess City Mayor, Augustine Barslee Klah Nyepan Sr, told RRNN’s Correspondent that residents rely on the court to settle matters such as land disputes, domestic issues, and minor criminal offenses. But without access to the court, they find it difficult to seek for justice leaving serious cases unresolved or compromised.
“We have been deprived of our rights to seek justice, and it feels like we are living in a lawless land.” People are afraid to report crimes because they know that even if they do, there will be no court to hear their cases.”, City Mayor Nyepan lamented.
The Grandcess City Mayor further disclosed that the inactiveness of the Grandcess Magisterial Court is attributed to various factors, with the death of one of the assigned magistrates being the main reason. He named budgetary constraints, staff shortage, and a lack of government prioritization of the judiciary system in rural areas as other reasons for the dormancy of the Grandcess Magisterial Court.
The above reasons, according to our reporter, has led to mounting frustration among residents who believe that the government must take immediate action to restore judicial services in their community.
Local leaders are calling on the central government and the Ministry of Justice to address the situation promptly. “We understand that resources are limited, but justice should not be a privilege reserved for the few. We urge the government to prioritize the reopening of the Magisterial Court in Grandcess,” said local officials.
The residents are quoted as saying; “in the absence of the court, conflicts are often resolved informally, leading to increased tensions and, in some cases, vigilante justice, especially incidents of mob action in response to criminal activities, which have further exacerbated the issue of public safety in Grandcess.
Legal experts have warned that prolonged inaccessibility to justice can lead to a breakdown in the rule of law. “Lack of judicial access can create a dangerous precedent,” said Magistrate Jerome S. Sikar, Barclayville City Magisterial Court, adding, “when community members are unable to rely on established legal frameworks, it can erode trust in the government and spur an environment ripe for lawlessness.”
Until the Ministerial Court can be reconditioned and resume operations, the people of Grandcess are expected to continue grappling with unresolved disputes and a growing sense of insecurity.
