Circuit Court Judge, Her Honour Sedinam Awo Kwadam
A Circuit Court Judge in Accra, Her Honour Sedinam Awo Kwadam, has revealed the numerous challenges faced by many lower bench judges in Ghana, including the need for some to rely on public transportation, popularly known as “trotro” to fulfill their professional duties.
According to her, it is deeply concerning that many judges and magistrates at the lower bench, unlike directors of state agencies and ministries, are compelled to work either without official vehicles or with old, dilapidated ones, thereby bearing the burden of ensuring their own safe mobility.
In a Workers’ Day tribute under the theme Saluting the Resilience of Lower Bench Judges and Magistrates, Her Honour lamented that many lower bench judicial officers often rely on public transportation or personal resources, even for official duties in remote areas.
“For instance, I have personally encountered a magistrate who relies on public minibuses, commonly known as trotro, and another who uses tricycles, referred to as K3K3 or Yellow Yellow, to fulfill their professional responsibilities.
“Even for those judicial officers who are provided with official vehicles, many of these vehicles far exceed their intended lifespan, often being used for double the requisite number of years. In some cases, judges and magistrates are assigned cars that are effectively at the end of their utility, operating at scrap value or well beyond their depreciated worth.”
She further raised concerns about inadequate security for judges and magistrates.
“The lack of adequate police protection significantly compounds the challenges faced by officers of the lower bench. Magistrates, for instance, often reside in the very communities where they adjudicate, leaving them exposed to considerable risks without the benefit of personal security. Similarly, Circuit Court judges who preside over high-stakes cases, such as robbery, face heightened vulnerabilities, yet lack the necessary security arrangements to safeguard them.
“This glaring absence of protection highlights a profound deficiency in the resources and support afforded to these indispensable custodians of justice, a situation not seen with other state officials, such as parliamentarians and senior members of the bench. Allow me to illustrate this concern with my personal experience. When I joined the bench as a magistrate on April 1, 2015, I was assigned an official vehicle. More than a decade later, I am still compelled to use the same vehicle, despite its recurring and worsening mechanical issues. On numerous occasions, I have been stranded on the road, forced either to repair the vehicle on the spot or have it towed to a mechanic.”
Her Honour Sedinam Awo Kwadam also disclosed the extraordinary measures she has taken to ensure her personal security is not compromised.
“In the course of my work, I have sentenced numerous offenders, including robbers. Consequently, I have been followed by suspicious bikers and have resorted to decoy driving to evade potential threats. For my safety, I have often had to spend nights away from home.
“Despite these risks, as a woman and a person with a disability in my leg caused by a workplace injury, I have had to drive myself to and from work for the past four years, without the assistance of a personal bodyguard or driver. I am certain that many of my colleagues on the lower bench could recount similar experiences, each underscoring the urgent need for enhanced security measures and logistical support for judges and magistrates serving in these critical roles.”
KA
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