CPA accuses Judicial Service of illegality

The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has registered its displeasure with the Judicial service charging fees from the public for using washrooms at the new court complex in Accra.

The Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O) of CPA, Kofi Kapito, indicated during an interaction with the media in Accra that checks carried out by his team revealed that before using washrooms at the newly-built high court premise one is charged GH50p, which he thinks is illegal and inappropriate.

He said: “The Judicial Service should know that the court building is a public place and doesn’t belong to them, and to the best of my knowledge Parliament has not approved any such levy to be charged.

“I am surprised the Judicial Service, which is in charge of our legal affairs, would even do something illegal of this sort,” Mr. Kapito added.

Following a letter written by the CPA boss to the Chief Justice enquiring on the matter, a reply that was signed by Justice Alex Poku-Acheampong, Judicial Secretary at the Judicial Service indicated that tolling the facility is necessary because it is a way of exploring means to maintain it and keep it open to the public.

“The Judicial Service requires funds for maintenance of the building and restocking of sanitary equipment and supplies, as government support has been insufficient to cover for that,” the letter stated.

It further indicated that revenue generated from the toll is still inadequate to cover all the maintenance costs of the ultra-modern building.

Mr. Kapito however cautioned that: “If the Judicial Service does not stop charging these fees within 21 days, we will take it to court because this is illegal”.

The new court complex was inaugurated in October last year and made up of 42 courtrooms; 10 land courts, 10 commercial courts, 6 criminal courts, and 6 general jurisdiction courts among others.

It also houses other facilities including banks, a cafeteria, 300-seat auditorium, library, and a business centre.