Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo and other officials
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Awutu Senya East, Michael Mensah, has dismissed media reports that there are no toilets at the Kasoa District Court.
Reports about the Magistrate of Kasoa District Court, Felicia Gandezi urinating in a chamber pot due to the lack of a toilet facility at the court went viral earlier this week.
Felicia Gandezi claimed the chamber pot was their only option.
That was after the Chief Justice (CJ), Sophia Akuffo had toured the court to get first-hand information about their challenges.
The Chief Justice was shocked about the revelation, saying “I haven’t seen a chamber pot since my daughter was a baby. This is terrible.”
Ms Akuffo, who was unaware of the situation, promised to put up an edifice to house the court.
But Mr. Mensah, in a Facebook post to set the records straight, indicated that “there is no issue over toilet facility for the judge as she already has one. She only wanted persistent flow of water since the water flow at the complex was intermittent.”
According to him, “Upon moving in the judge requested for curtains for the courtroom, creation of another entrance for court users, and air conditioning unit for her office and water to be used for the toilet facility.”
He added that “All these were done immediately, and the Judicial Secretary wrote to the Assembly to appreciate the efforts made by the Assembly.”
“I was therefore shocked to hear that the judge uses chamber pot anytime nature calls. I am still in shock. Hmmmmm,” the MCE said, adding that “the Assembly, together with the said court, occupied a rented residential facility at Krispol City in Kasoa. When I took over, I realized the place was so congested.”
He explained that “the assembly’s offices were uncomfortable and even some officers, including some heads of departments, had no offices.
According to him, “The courtroom and offices were so small and the registrar operated from the kitchen of the rented residential facility. The judge’s office was without fan and very uncomfortable. The rent charge per month was GHC12,000.00.”
A decision, the MCE said, was taken for the Assembly to occupy the CEDECOM project that was not in use.
“In fact I contacted the Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan who was on a working visit. He permitted the Assembly to occupy the said CEDECOM project. All these arrangements were done to save cost and also to have a more comfortable place,” he added.
“Prior to the relocation, I personally contacted the judge to have her delegation take part in the relocation arrangement so as to assist the Municipal Works Engineer to make the place fit for use by the court.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Mensah has told an Accra-based Starr FM that the Magistrate had been transferred from Kasoa following the revelation.
“I’m informed that she has been transferred from the area. She is no longer in the area. We know we have many problems to deal with at Kasoa, and we need the courts but when I heard that incident I was shocked because it couldn’t have been true,” he said.
By Melvin Tarlue