Accra, May 22, GNA - The proposed five-storey building that would house a courtroom complex received varied reactions from stakeholders who attended a consultative forum on the building in Accra on Friday.

The 25 million-Ghana cedi complex, would have 12 Circuit Courts and 18 High Courts with spacious car parking lots, registries, cafeteria, lawyers' robbing room, judges' chambers, an electronic notice board, cells and a bank, is located close to the 28 February Courts, aka Cocoa Affairs Court.

The ultra modern complex was designed by Avangarde Design Services, Accra.

The proposed court complex comes after a number of people had reacted to the courts buildings, especially those housed at Cocoa Affairs.

The Cocoa Affairs Court, which was a bungalow for some colonial masters, had not seen any rehabilitation until part of the structure collapsed three years ago with two people sustaining injuries. The forum attracted members from the bench and bar, engineers, architects, planners, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Prisons Service, the Attorney General's office and the National Security, among other groups.

During an open forum, issues which took centre stage included the location of the building, security in the area, traffic congestion, a standby generator and electronic way of storing court proceedings. Nii Osah Mills, President of the Ghana Bar Association, pushed for a friendly building and Central Library in the complex.

Mr Justice J. Amoono Monney, retired Judge of the Court of Appeal, proposed the inclusion of a juvenile court, more rooms for family tribunal, friendly witness boxes and parking lots for lawyers and the public.

Mr Justice Quaye of the Court of Appeal recommended an effective lift system and underground car park and positioning of fire tenders at vantage points.

Nene Amegatcher, a private legal practitioner, proposed a waiting room for lawyers, noting that that courts were now sitting in shifts, namely morning and afternoon.

He added that with traffic congestion in the city it would be prudent for lawyers to get a waiting room to work while waiting for their cases.