The Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, has ordered the immediate closure of the Adjabeng District Court 2, in the Korle Clottey Municipality of the Greater Accra region. During a tour of some facilities in Accra, Ms. Akuffo described the environment as not conducive for court use.
She asked the Assembly to pull down the building or risk a law suit by her as a private citizen.
She said the asbestos roofing and sides of the building pose health threats to both Court staff and users.
The tour took the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo to nearly 20 courts in Accra, including the Circuit Court Complex, District Court in Teshie and La and the Adjabeng District Court at Abeka in the Korle Clottey Municipality.
All the courts visited at the Circuit Court Complex had faulty Air Conditioner, poor storage of documents, old and damaged furniture, stuffy and old looking carpet, leaking roofs, and damaged cabinets.
The Chief Justice who was unhappy with developments at the Circuit Court Complex criticised the Estate Directorate for not being proactive in the maintenance of facilities.
At the Teshie District Court, the Magistrate, Mrs. Sediman Awo Balokah, lamented that the assembly has not provided her with accommodation which is affecting the effective delivery of her job.
She complained that the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly is fighting the court for its share of fines imposed on persons by the court. These monies, she explained are not held by the Court but are integrated into a consolidated fund. Ms. Akuffo described the structure as sub-standard with lot of defects.
At the La District Court, Ms. Akuffo stated that the court must be cited away from offices housing other government institutions.
The La District Court which on the average hears about 25 cases in a day is situated in an improvised building at the office of the La District Assembly.
The Chief Justice instructed the Municipal assembly to be furnished with a prototype copy of a court building matching the specification of the Judicial Service.
Meanwhile Ms. Akuffo has ordered the immediate relocation of the Adjabeng District court 2 in Abeka.
She was not happy about the conditions under which the court operates and described the premises as a ticking time bomb, detrimental to the health of staff and patrons of the court.