The CJ being assisted by Justice William Atuguba (a Supreme Court Judge), Benson Nutsukpui (President, Ghana Bar Association) and others to cut the tape.
The Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood, has observed that most court buildings in the country do not inspire much public confidence.
This, the CJ notes, is because they (buildings) remain in deplorable conditions.
Justice Wood stated that although it is true that justice is founded on the integrity and legal capability of those who administer it, the buildings and the physical space from which justice is administered add to the trust and confidence people have in the judicial system.
The Supreme Court (SC) has not witnessed any interior renovation since its inauguration in 1929. Previous works have been extremely limited.
Aside the full-scale renovation of its windows and re-roofing of the entire building since two decades ago, the building has only seen repair of roof leakages, exterior and interior paintings.
Currently, the building accommodates only the Supreme Court (formerly known as the Chief Justice’s court, Criminal and Civil Divisions of the Court of Appeal, the High Court’s, among others.
Speaking at the dedication of the renovated rooms of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal in Accra yesterday, Mrs. Georgina Wood underscored, “…….and so we appeal to the Central Government to make funds available for building new court houses, renovating, refurbishing court houses and for maintenance purposes in order not to hamper the administration of justice and undermine the fundamental right of access to justice.”
She stated that the importance of the third branch of government (judiciary) in the socio-economic development of the nation cannot be under-estimated, adding that the judicial reforms initiatives are really geared towards the bigger national goal.
Alex B. Opoku Acheampong, the Judicial Secretary, said the facility had become too old and did not provide the functionality required of a modern-day court.
He said the renovated SC edifice was one of the signature acts of the CJ, who is due for retirement this year.
Tonny Yeboah Asare, the Project Consultant, claimed that the renovation of the building was very daunting because it’s a facility of historic importance, stressing that it called for more professionalism.
Rev Prof. Seth Ayettey dedicated the building.
Work on the SC edifice started in mid-August 2016, with an initial project gestation period of two months. However, due to constraints in the procurement of critical off-shore items, the project’s completion period was extended to December 14, 2016.
The entire work, financed through Internally Generated Funds of the Judicial Service, was contracted to Messrs Avangarde Design Services as Consultants and China State Hualong Company Limited (Contractors).
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson
