JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, LITIGANTS ETC IN MELEE IN KSI

There was what could be described as a tragi-comedy at the premises of the Kumasi High Court complex this morning, Wednesday 24th February, when part of the buildings caught fire. 

There was a melee at Circuit Court Four which is very close to the building where the fire started as all the people around at the time had to run for dear life.

 The Judge, Prosecutors, Court officials and litigants who were within Circuit Court Four had to find their way out of the Court room bringing proceedings to an abrupt end around 11 am. 

The fire totally destroyed the Chambers of the Judge of High Court Five and a Circuit Court Judge who were at the time in their respective Courts hearing cases that had been brought before them. 

The timely arrival of personnel and fire tenders from the KMA Fire Station which is just a walking distance from the Court complex, was enough to confine the ravaging fire to just the two Judge Chambers.

 In effect, the two Chambers were completely destroyed by the fire with nothing to salvage in the process. 

The items destroyed included files of cases. Power supply to the entire premises had to be disconnected thereby ending the day’s activities to an unplanned end. 

The cause of the wildfire is yet to be determined so is the actual cost of the destruction caused by the fire. 

The Ashanti Regional Administrator of the Judicial Service of Ghana, Noel Francis Agodzo told Ashanti Today that the Judges whose Chambers were gutted by the fire have been offered temporal office accommodation. 

However, proceeding at all the courts within the affected premises will resume tomorrow, Thursday, February 25. 

Mr. Agodzo indicated that even though some essential documents have been lost to the fire, justice delivery at the Courts involved will not be so much affected. 

He therefore entreated all litigants and other parties whose cases are pending to attend proceedings tomorrow.