PHOTO: Judge Joe S. Barkon before being hit by road accident

By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com

Monrovia, Liberia- The Resident Judge of Grand Bassa County Joe S. Barkon is appealing to Liberian government and others human humanitarian organizations to further seek medical attention abroad, after being involved in a serious motor accident that left him with a broken pelvic.

According to the Judge, who is now bed-ridden, the accident happened last week (July 27,2022).

The Grand Bassa County resident circuit judge’s condition is critical and he is currently unable to walk, neither can he sit on his own and is now forced to use tube to urinate without being able to eat on his own but with the assistance of his  caretaker.

Prior to the accident, Judge Barkon was assigned at the 10th Judicial Circuit Court for and the May A.D term of court and he again reassigned for this August A.D term of court in Lofa County.

The Grand Bassa County judge was involved in this tragic incident after attending his church First Baptist Church situated at the Congo back road new course of official induction ceremony on July 27,2022 between 6-7pm.

According to Judge Barkon, it all happened while his vehicle was parked when another vehicle ran into him with high speed, as he tried to look in the hood after his official vehicle had developed mechanical fault. The impact then left him with a broken pelvic.

Doctors at the ELWA Hospital near Monrovia, where the circuit court Judge is currently admitted, have since the accident recommended that he be taken to India for intensive medical treatment, in order to repair the damage to his pelvic and improve his condition, Judge Barkon told this Reporter.

At the same time, the ailing Judge has said that the current insurance coverage he is being treated under (Insurance Company of Africa) will not cover all his bill, adding that where the insurance can’t cover he will take the responsibility.

Judge Barkon can be reached at cell #: (+231) 777057025.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Francis S. Korkpor meanwhile, paid a curtesy visit to Judge Barkon at the ELWA during the weekend, but it appears that judiciary is out of money to assist the ailing judge.

Chief Justice Korkpor has however assured that some members of the Judiciary will engage the president for assistance in order for the judge to seek further medical attention.

Judge Joe S. Barkon was appointed in 2018 by the Liberian president George Weah as resident judge of Grand Bassa County and since then, he has never been taken to the Supreme Court on ethical transgressions.

The National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia’s first vice president for judges Affairs, A. Blamo Dixon has written the association’s president Judge Nancy Finda Sammy to help intervene in addressing the plight of one of its members.

In the letter, Judge Dixson said that Judge Barkon has been ill and is currently seeking medical treatment at the ELWA hospital.

The letter dated July 29, 2022 informed the NATJL president that their colleague Judge Barkon is in a very critical condition and doctors at the ELWA hospital have recommended that he be flown out of Liberia for advanced medical treatment in Ghana or India.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court ‘C’ resident circuit judge Dixon wants the Trial Judges Association to assist Judge Barkon with a reasonable amount of money to facilitate his travel from Liberia to Ghana or India.