The Mattru Jong Magistrate Court, a critical judicial facility in Bonthe District, faces severe neglect as the building, constructed in 2002, continues to deteriorate without any significant maintenance or renovation over the past two decades.

Lacking basic facilities such as restrooms, the court’s condition has raised concerns among legal professionals and residents who rely on it for legal services.

The same building is also utilized by the High Court, forcing both courts to share the limited and run-down infrastructure, which creates logistical challenges and delays in court proceedings. “It’s difficult for both the staff and the community to have two courts squeezed into one inadequate space. It reflects a serious shortfall in our justice infrastructure,” said a local attorney.

Moreover, an unfinished magistrate’s quarter, under construction for over a decade, remains abandoned, leaving magistrates without a nearby residence. The incomplete quarters have become symbolic of the broader issue of neglected infrastructure in Mattru Jong, residents say, as they continue to advocate for improvement in local facilities.

With no concrete plans from local or national authorities for restoration, the situation remains dire, impacting the court’s functionality and underscoring the need for urgent government intervention to uphold the integrity of the judicial system in the region.