Lawyers and state prosecutors in the Upper West Region have expressed strong frustration over the prolonged delay in completing the multi-million-cedi High Court complex in Wa, describing the abandoned project site as a “cemetery” after nearly two decades of unfulfilled promises.
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) in the Upper West Region, together with the Office of the Attorney General, said several inspections and assurances by national authorities have failed to result in the completion of the three-storey facility.
The situation has left Wa without a modern, purpose-built courtroom, forcing the region’s courts to continue operating from old and temporary structures.
During a visit to the project site on Friday, legal practitioners observed that the contractor had removed its equipment, while unsecured gates and exposed installations had left parts of the facility vulnerable to theft and vandalism.
They also expressed concern over the quality of the work, noting that sections of the exterior paint applied less than three months ago had already begun peeling.
Chairman of the GBA in the Upper West Region, Siddique Ubeidu, said the prolonged delay had become unacceptable, particularly as the existing court facilities continue to deteriorate.
“You will recall that this work was started almost 20 years ago, and it has been one reason or excuse for another,” he said.
Mr Ubeidu explained that the GBA’s national executive committee visited the region on April 1 and was assured that the project would be completed within three to four months.
He said a subsequent delegation from the Judicial Service, led by Supreme Court Justice Yonny Kulendi, also assured stakeholders that the facility would be ready within two to three months.
“Here we are today, 4th September, and the place is a cemetery. If you look at the way they packed their equipment, there is no sign that they will be back anytime soon,” he stated.
“What is even more worrying is that the paint done less than three months ago has started peeling off, pointing to the suspect quality of the work,” he added.
Mr Ubeidu also raised concerns about the condition of the Wa Circuit Court, saying serious structural defects posed risks to judges, lawyers, court staff and litigants.
“We feel very depressed and disappointed, and we even fear for our lives. You can see gaping, life-threatening cracks inside the judge’s chambers and the courtroom. Staff have no offices and compete with litigants inside the courtroom, even eating their meals there,” he lamented.
He recalled that former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo had previously threatened to close down the facility because of its poor condition, but said no significant action had followed.
“Years ago, former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo came to town and threatened to shut the court down due to its state, yet nothing was done while the population grew,” Mr Ubeidu said.
Principal State Attorney for the Upper West Region, Saeed Abdul-Shakur, described the situation as a national embarrassment and an indication of institutional neglect.
“It didn’t take China 20 years to build the Three Gorges Dam, nor Dubai 10 years to build the Burj Khalifa. Why is it taking a whole nation 20 years to set up just a three-storey building for a court complex?” he questioned.
He said the region serves 11 districts, yet its High Court, Circuit Court and District Court continue to operate from colonial-era and temporary facilities.
“We thought the visits by the Parliamentary Select Committee and the Chief Justice’s delegation meant light at the end of the tunnel, without knowing it was an oncoming train bound to crash the justice system,” Mr Abdul-Shakur stated.
“We cannot be delivering justice under trees,” he added, noting that lawyers and litigants sometimes travel from Accra, Kumasi and Tamale to Wa to participate in court proceedings.
Acting Secretary of the GBA in the Upper West Region, Crispin Wura-Sey Ziekah, also criticised the repeated delays, warning that the situation could worsen if urgent action is not taken.
“Are we waiting for our courts to collapse before we complete this structure?” he asked.
“At the District Court, a magistrate has to wait in his vehicle until proceedings are assembled before stepping inside. We were assured the new complex would be commissioned during the Bar Conference hosted here last year; it failed,” he explained.
“We were promised we would start the new legal year this October in the complex, but the contractor has packed out completely, and the unsecured gates leave installations vulnerable to vandalism,” he added.
The legal practitioners have therefore appealed to the Chief Justice, the Attorney General and the Minister for Justice to intervene and ensure that the contractor and project consultants return to the site.
They want the facility completed and put into use as soon as possible to prevent the continued deterioration of the region’s temporary court facilities and avert what they described as a potential crisis in justice delivery.
However, the contractor, Project Seven Limited, has denied abandoning the project.
A director of the company, Simon Sowah, told JoyNews that the company had outstanding certificates awaiting payment from the Judicial Service and the central government.
He explained that the contractor would return to the site once the government settles its outstanding financial obligations.
By: Prince Martey-Sogar