GARU NCCE VISITS THE DISTRICT POLICE STATION AND COURT

The Garu District Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Civic Education Club members of the Presby JHS with their teachers visited the Garu Police Station and the District Court. Mr. Akolgo said the trip forms part of the flagship activities of NCCE to help pupils and students familiarize themselves with the operations of the institutions in the district.

Mr Akolgo Samuel explained to the students that understanding the mandates of state institutions is important because they equip students with the requisite knowledge and skills, which will allow them to become good citizens.

On behalf of the District Police Commander, Mr. Akangwanati Raphael took the students through the mandate and operations of the Ghana Police Service as enshrined in Chapter 15, Article 200 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. He said the Police Service is mandated to maintain its traditional role of maintaining law and order. He encouraged the students to report any criminal activities to the Police by dialing the emergency numbers 999, and 18555. He said the Police are our friends and that no one is above the law, whether the Executive, Judiciary, or the Legislature.

The District Court Judge, Mr. Thomas Boadi Soyori, took the students through the operations of the Judiciary. He explained that according to the Constitution, Justice emanates from the people and shall be administered in the name of the Republic by the Judiciary which shall be independent and subject only to this Constitution. He explained that the Ghanaian Judiciary has two strata of courts: the Superior Courts and the Lower Courts. The Superior Courts consist of the Supreme Court, the Appeal Court, the High Court, and the Regional Tribunals. He said the Supreme Court is the highest court of appeal in Ghana.

Mr Soyori further added that the Lower Courts consist of Circuit Courts and District Courts. He said each Circuit Court is presided over by a Circuit Judge. He explained that the jurisdiction of a Circuit Court includes civil action arising under contract or tort, recovery of small claims and cases pertaining to land law as well as matters relating to the custody of children. District Courts can also serve as a Juvenile Court or a Family Tribunal.

He further explained how the Juvenile Cells operates and the position of each worker and their duties in the court from the translator to the Judge. The students observed how the Judge and Lawyers deal with cases and issues legally at the court; especially the languages the judge and the lawyers used.