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Don’t take pictures in courtrooms – CJ

THE Chief Justice (CJ), Sophia Akuffo, has directed all court reporters and other members of the media to desist from taking pictures and other audio visuals from courtrooms.

“Failure to comply with this directive will lead to confiscation of offending equipment and other consequences,” a statement signed by Cynthia Pamela A. Addo, the Judicial Secretary, has warned.

A statement issued on May 10 and copied the Ghanaian Times in Accra, said the attention of the CJ had been drawn to the fact that “certain media houses have displayed pictures of parties in the courtroom on online news portals” in violation of regulations that govern coverage at the courts.

The CJ, on April 15, 2019, issued a directive in which the use of portable computers and tablet computers by lawyers were permitted as working tools.

The directive, however, stated that the use of electronic devices in a manner that interferes with court sound systems, courtroom decorum, generates sounds, takes photos or record voices, record or digitally transcribe proceedings or log-in to social media websites, except as permitted, were prohibited.

Going against the above listed directives, the statement said was a “clear indication of breaches of the directives, [as] members of the media have been captured by the Court’s CCTV cameras taking pictures.”   

The statement urged court reporters to desist from going against the directive so as to avoid the consequences that come with flouting the directive.

BY TIMES REPORTER                                                 

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