{"id":2154,"date":"2026-08-19T17:25:13","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T17:25:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daybreaknewspapersl.com\/?p=2154"},"modified":"2026-08-19T17:25:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T17:25:19","slug":"a-fresh-coat-of-paint-but-who-should-fix-our-courts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daybreaknewspapersl.com\/?p=2154","title":{"rendered":"A Fresh Coat of Paint: But Who Should Fix Our Courts?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><em>By: A. Kargbo<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A court Room that was once neglected<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A courtroom that once showed clear signs of neglect has received a much-needed facelift, but the transformation has also raised questions about the state of public court facilities in Sierra Leone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During a recent visit to Magistrates\u2019 Court No. 3, this newspaper observed a noticeable change. The courtroom, which had previously been affected by leaking, rusty furniture and an unpleasant smell during proceedings, now looks brighter and more welcoming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fresh paint has given the walls a new look while air-conditioning units have reportedly been provided to improve ventilation and comfort for Magistrates, lawyers, witnesses, accused persons and members of the public who spend long hours in court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At first, the improvement appeared to be a Judiciary-led renovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, this medium understands that the work was carried out through the voluntary intervention of a private individual who donated paint and air-conditioning units to the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The donor, whose identity could not be independently confirmed at the time of reporting, is also said to be willing to extend similar assistance to other courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The gesture is commendable, particularly at a time when many public institutions struggle with limited resources. But it also draws attention to the condition in which some court proceedings have previously been conducted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Courts are places where people&#8217;s liberty, rights and disputes are determined. They are therefore expected to provide an environment that reflects the seriousness and dignity of the justice system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For years, however, some courtrooms have struggled with basic maintenance issues, from leaking roofs and deteriorating furniture to poor ventilation and uncomfortable working conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The recent improvement at Court No. 3 shows how much difference even a modest intervention can make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it also leaves an important public-interest question; how are the country&#8217;s Magistrates\u2019 Courts maintained, and what systems are in place to ensure that court facilities remain safe, comfortable and fit for the administration of justice?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Private donations can complement government efforts, and this particular contribution deserves recognition. At the same time, there is a need for clear and sustainable maintenance arrangements so that the condition of a courtroom does not depend solely on whether someone is willing to step forward and help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Judiciary should therefore be given an opportunity to explain its maintenance plans for Magistrates\u2019 Courts and whether similar improvements are planned for other courts facing comparable challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For now, Court No. 3 has a fresher look, but beyond the new paint and air-conditioning, the renovation has opened a wider conversation about the condition of the spaces where justice is delivered, and who should ultimately be responsible for keeping them that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By: A. Kargbo A court Room that was once neglected A courtroom that once showed clear signs of neglect has received a much-needed facelift, but the transformation has also raised questions about the state of public court facilities in Sierra Leone. During a recent visit to Magistrates\u2019 Court No. 3, this newspaper observed a noticeable [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2155,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>A Fresh Coat of Paint: But Who Should Fix Our Courts? - Daybreak Newspaper<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/daybreaknewspapersl.com\/?p=2154\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Fresh Coat of Paint: But Who Should Fix Our Courts? - Daybreak Newspaper\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By: A. Kargbo A court Room that was once neglected A courtroom that once showed clear signs of neglect has received a much-needed facelift, but the transformation has also raised questions about the state of public court facilities in Sierra Leone. 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