President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has initiated a comprehensive expansion of Ghana’s Court of Appeal, appointing sixteen new Justices as part of a strategic effort to alleviate the mounting backlog of cases in the nation’s judicial system.
President Akufo-Addo underscored the expansion’s goal of enhancing judicial efficiency and ensuring the timely delivery of justice nationwide.
The Judicial Council recommended the newly appointed justices, including Justice Charles Gyamfi Danquah and Justice Gifty Dekyem, amidst challenges posed by an overloaded caseload and recent retirements of senior judges.
Notably, Justices Amma Gaisie, Cecilia Sowah, Victor Ofoe, and Angelina Domakyaareh have retired, with Justice Alex Poku Acheampong set to retire in October 2024 upon reaching the statutory age.
In collaboration with the Judicial Council, the Chief Justice has led a strategic decentralization initiative by establishing permanent Court of Appeal panels in five key regions across Ghana.
These regional panels aim to alleviate pressure on the central court in Accra and expedite case resolutions, making the appellate process more accessible to citizens.
The new permanent panel locations include:
Sekondi: Handling appeals from the Central and Western Regions at the Sekondi High Court premises.
Koforidua: Managing appeals from the Eastern, Volta, and Oti Regions at the Koforidua High Court.
Kumasi: Serving appeals from the Ahafo, Bono, Bono East, and Ashanti Regions at the newly established Court of Appeal Complex. The facility includes townhouses and a guesthouse to accommodate Court of Appeal justices permanently stationed in Kumasi.
Tamale: Addressing appeals from the Upper West, Upper East, North East, Savannah, and Northern Regions, with hearings facilitated through a virtual link to the Kumasi Court of Appeal.
Accra: Continuing to handle appeals from the Greater Accra Region, maintaining its pivotal role in the national judicial framework while benefiting from reduced caseloads due to establishing regional panels.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized that these appointments and decentralization efforts are crucial to improving judicial efficiency and addressing backlog challenges.
“The significant expansion of the Court of Appeal’s personnel in response to our overburdened court system underscores our commitment to timely justice delivery,” he stated.
He highlighted the deployment of advanced technologies, including the e-justice system, aimed at streamlining judicial processes and enhancing transparency. The ongoing construction of courthouses with residential facilities across Ghana demonstrates the government’s commitment to judicial reform and infrastructure development.
The decentralization and expansion of the Court of Appeal reflect broader efforts to enhance accessibility and efficiency within Ghana’s judicial system, bolstering public trust in the rule of law. President Akufo-Addo expressed confidence in the newly appointed justices, urging them to uphold integrity, humility, and responsibility.
He emphasized the pivotal role of their decisions in shaping individual lives and national development.
President Akufo-Addo concluded that the strategic expansion of the Court of Appeal marks a significant stride towards a more efficient, transparent, and accessible judicial system in Ghana.
