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Mrs Justice Georgina T. Wood (3rd right) being assisted by Ambassador James Victor Gbeho (2nd right),  to cut a tape to inaugurate the new Liberty Court. With them are some officials of the Judicial Service. Picture: EDNA ADU-SERWAA
Mrs Justice Georgina T. Wood (3rd right) being assisted by Ambassador James Victor Gbeho (2nd right), to cut a tape to inaugurate the new Liberty Court. With them are some officials of the Judicial Service. Picture: EDNA ADU-SERWAA

Judicial Service inaugurates apartments for judges

The Judicial Service yesterday inaugurated two five-storey apartments at Roman Ridge in Accra to house 10 High Court judges.

The GH¢8-million project, which was started in 2010, was constructed with funding from the government and internally generated funds of the service.

Each of the executive-styled apartments contains three bedrooms, a living and dining area, a study, a  laundry room and has a two-bedroom outhouse.

Deficit

At the inauguration ceremony, the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, said currently, 74 out of the 143 Superior Court judges were without official accommodation.

That, she said, was despite the fact that their conditions of service stipulated that they ought to be allocated fully furnished residential accommodation.

To address the challenge, she said in 2010, the Judicial Service embarked on a project to redevelop some of its old bungalows into modern residential facilities for judges.

“As part of the project, six two-storey bungalows were to be constructed at East Ridge, four two-storey bungalows in Kumasi and 10 executive flats at Roman Ridge,’’ she said.

She, however, said the project in Kumasi had grounded to a halt owing to financial challenges.

In 2013, the Roman Ridge project, she said also came to a standstill due to funding difficulties from the government.

“However, in 2016, the Judicial Service obtained authorisation from the Ministry of Finance to use part of its internally generated funds to complete the project. We are relieved that work has been completed and the flats are ready for occupation by our distinguished judges of the High Court,’’ she said.

Access to justice

Mrs Justice Wood said as a result of new judicial reforms, the Judicial Service had appointed more judges and magistrates to further improve access to justice.

“The engagement of more judges by the service has invariably resulted in an increase in the number of judges who require accommodation from the state,’’ she said.

For his part, the project coordinator, Mr Kofi Arhin, advised the judges who would occupy the apartments to adopt a good maintenance culture.

“Maintain the edifice in the state in which it is or even better,’’ he urged the would-be occupants.

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