A private legal practitioner,Mathias Kwasi Yakah is threatening to sue the Attorney General and the Judicial Service over the recently reviewed court charges.
Mr. Yakah wants explanation for the upward review of the charges which he describes as absurd and illegal.
[contextly_sidebar id=”RuLDsyYGOdEDL86HQHhJd5RQXAWly3Gk”]The Judicial Service last month increased the court fees by between 50 and 300 hundred percent.
The move follows the recent Parliamentary approval of CI 86 which spells out the various charges approved for the courts under the law.
Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Yakah said the new charges will bring additional hardship to clients and subsequently affect justice delivery in the country.
He said some court cashiers and registrars are applying the new charges to criminal proceedings- a situation he describes as unlawful.
“…what the Rules Committee has passed is applicable to only civil proceedings but the court cashiers and registrars are applying these to criminal proceedings which is totally wrong and illegal.
“Until an order comes which will be binding on them, they will still continue to do that. That is why I am taking the Judicial Service and the Attorney General because the AG is the chief or principal defendant of the government,” the lawyer explained.
New court fees
The Rules of Court Committee chaired by the Chief Justice announced new fees in accordance with Article 157 of the 1992 Constitution a few weeks ago.
Fees of filing notice of appeal against a final judgment or decision jumped from GHC 25 cedis to GHC 100 cedis.
The cost of filing amendment or additional grounds of appeal has also been increased from GHC 25 to GHC 100.
Also, fees for filing motion to set aside and re-hear appeal determined by an ex-parte was increased from GHC 30 to GHC 300.
At the Supreme Court, a petition to challenge election of President jumped from GHC 500 to GHC 5,000.
A service document which use to cost GHC 50 will now attract a fee of GHC 200.
Also filing of statement of case has also been increased from GHC 25 to GHC 300 and a search at the Supreme Court which used to cost GHC 5 will now attract a fee of GHC 50.
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By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah