The Judicial Service has denied claims that it has sold two bungalows previously occupied by the late Justice Samuel Marful-Sau, and another by a retired Justice of the Court of Appeal.
The Service, in a press statement reacting to recent allegations that the bungalows were sold without recourse to the accommodation challenges faced by Superior Court judges, indicated that the bungalows were handed over to government pursuant to an agreement as part of government’s redevelopment plans in the Roman Ridge enclave.
The statement said on December 28, 2022, the Judicial Service received a letter from the Ministry of Works and Housing, expressing the desire to implement a Government Redevelopment Scheme within Onyasia Close, Roman Ridge, Accra.
It said two properties that had been allocated by the Ministry of Works and Housing to the Judicial Service, and which previously had been occupied by the late Justice Samuel Marful-Sau (JSC) and Justice Victor Ofoe, J.A. (Rtd), fell within the re-development enclave.
“The plan under Government’s Redevelopment Scheme as expressed to the Judicial Service was to increase the housing stock in the enclave within a two-year period from the date of handing over of the properties to the Ministry. Upon completion of the project, four housing units were to be allocated to the Judicial Service for use by Superior Court judges,” the statement indicated.
It continued that the Judicial Service accepted the offer, recognising the serious accommodation deficit faced by the Judiciary, whilst taking into consideration the security and safety requirements of judges, and also convinced that the project will be beneficial to the Judicial Service.
“Following a series of meetings between representatives of Government, Judicial Service, and the Ministry of Works and Housing regarding the two properties mentioned above, an agreement dated February 17, 2023 was entered into between the Judicial Service and the Ministry of Works and Housing to proceed with the project,” the statement further indicated.
It further clarified that developments on the said land are therefore covered by an agreement concluded between the Judicial Service and the Ministry of Works and Housing.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak