General News of Wednesday, 25 March 2009

Source: GNA

Control room at court premises on fire

Accra, March 25, GNA - A section of the newly created court complex, which houses the land, labour and human rights court, on Wednesday morning caught fire but firemen promptly put it off and no damage was done.

The fire is said to have started from what court officials described as the control room, which had all the meters of the various blocks and offices. A court official, who witnessed the incident, said when they reported to work at about 0730 hours one of their colleagues saw smoke coming from the control room situated on the ground floor and raised the alarm. When the GNA got there, wet empty cartons of computer accessories had been removed from the control room and dumped in front of the court complex while some cleaners were wiping water from the floor. The witness said the fire did not spread to the courtrooms adding, "you can see that the empty cartons which were in the control room have not been burnt.

"The court complex, our computers and accessories among other things are intact." Security men at post at the court complex locked the premises and asked all staff, including judges to descend from the two storey building. While some of the staff were seen standing in front of the court complex others were seen directing clients who had their cases before the courts. Cases listed for hearing would have to be adjourned to the following day. The source said officials of the Judicial Service were yet to determine the extent of damage.