Ghana Moves to Reform Justice System and Improve Efficiency

Ghanaian authorities have launched a series of reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s judiciary and improving the efficiency of court operations.

Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang met with Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to review the judiciary’s performance over the past year and discuss priority reforms scheduled for implementation in the coming months.

Central to the discussions were measures to reduce the growing backlog of cases across the country’s courts. Plans include staggered court sittings with morning and afternoon sessions, expanding the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms, and establishing specialized courts, including those dedicated to handling cases related to illegal mining.

The Chief Justice also highlighted that revisions to the Rules of Court are at an advanced stage and expected to take effect by March. Additionally, the judiciary is considering decentralizing the Ghana School of Law entrance examination by accrediting selected law faculties to administer a standardized exam nationwide.

Concerns about security and limited office space at the Supreme Court Complex were raised, with plans underway to construct a new facility to address these challenges. Officials also discussed the acceleration of the E-Justice system, designed to improve case management, increase transparency, and reduce delays in court processes.

Vice President Opoku-Agyemang commended the judiciary’s reform agenda and reaffirmed government support for initiatives aimed at enhancing access to justice and modernizing judicial operations.

Senior officials of the Judicial Service, including Judicial Secretary Musah Ahmed and Professor Raymond Atuguba, Director of the Ghana School of Law, were also present at the meeting