Supreme Court nominee Justice Senyo Dzamefe has endorsed a proposal to expand the number of justices on Ghana’s apex court, arguing it would help clear the backlog of cases and speed up rulings on key legal matters.
“Increasing the number of judges would speed up decisions on land, chieftaincy, and constitutional matters,” he said during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday.
Justice Dzamefe noted the court is overwhelmed, handling over 400 cases annually. “Our Supreme Court is overburdened with more than 400 cases each year, unlike the United States, where state courts help reduce the load,” he added.
According to the Judicial Service, 12 judges managed 344 cases in the 2022/2023 legal year, leaving 1,648 cases pending.
Dzamefe also advocated adopting digital technology to improve court efficiency, including virtual hearings. He stressed the need for better tools and staff motivation to enhance judicial delivery. Additionally, he proposed strict timelines for case resolutions: “At least three months for criminal cases and six months for civil cases.”
On constitutional matters, he reaffirmed his stance on presidential term limits, pledging loyalty to Article 66(2) of the Constitution: “A person cannot hold office as President of Ghana for more than two terms.”
Justice Dzamefe is among seven Court of Appeal judges nominated to the Supreme Court by President John Mahama under Article 144(2) of the 1992 Constitution. Other nominees include Justices Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh, Philip Bright Mensah, Janapare Adzua Bartels-Kodwo, Hafisata Amaleboba, and Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo.
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