The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has given Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Woods a 21-day ultimatum to stop charging fees for the use of washrooms in the new court complex or face court action.
According to the association, they have received several complaints from members of the general public, including litigants, that anytime they use the washrooms, they are made to pay 50 pesewas.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CPA, Mr Kofi Kapito cautioned the Chief Justice to stop charging the illegal levies and seek parliamentary approval, which would set up the perimeters of the payment of these charges if any, or the CPA would have no choice but to seek an injunction from the courts.
“We will also want the Judicial Service to know that the courthouse is a public place where any citizen can visit to listen to cases if they are a party to a case or not,” he added.
He noted that upon investigations by the CPA, it emerged that the charges at the new court complex are illegal since the Parliament of Ghana, which has the mandate to approve levies on public institutions, has not done so.
“It is, therefore, very surprising that the Judicial Service, headed by the Chief Justice, who are said to be the custodians in upholding our laws will rather condone in an illegality,” he said.
Mr Kapito said following the numerous complaints from Ghanaians, CPA petitioned the Chief Justice for a solution.
However, he said the response from the Chief Justice and the Judicial Service was not encouraging since they insisted that there is no way they would do anything about the situation.
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