Supreme Court nominee Justice Senyo Dzamefe has thrown his full support behind maintaining an uncapped number of judges at Ghana’s apex court.
During his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, June 16, 2025, he aligned his views with longstanding calls from the Chief Justice, citing the need to boost judicial efficiency.
Justice Dzamefe argued that Ghana’s 1992 Constitution intentionally left the number of Supreme Court judges uncapped, and for good reason.
“The framers of our Constitution knew what they were doing,” he said. “It’s not capped, and as long as the Constitution allows it, I’m for it.”
He backed two major points frequently raised by the Chief Justice to justify expanding the bench. First, he highlighted how a small number of judges slows down the administration of justice.
With only 13 judges before the current seven nominations, Justice Dzamefe noted they are overburdened with caseloads, which hampers their ability to write detailed opinions and hold necessary conferences. He stressed that the workload is a major challenge that affects justice delivery nationwide.
Second, he dismissed comparisons with the United States Supreme Court, which has just nine judges. “The U.S. has 50 state Supreme Courts in addition to one federal Supreme Court,” he explained. “In Ghana, we only have one Supreme Court handling everything.”
He also noted that, unlike the U.S., where the federal court can choose which cases to hear, Ghana’s Supreme Court must handle all qualifying cases, further stretching its resources.
According to a 2024 letter from the Chief Justice to the President, the ideal size of the court should be around 20 judges to effectively manage the national caseload. Justice Dzamefe agreed with this recommendation, underscoring the practicality of increasing the bench.
Beyond court size, the nominee addressed issues of access to justice, particularly for citizens in Ghana’s remote regions. When asked about the possibility of establishing regional branches of the Supreme Court, such as a northern bench to serve areas like Bawku, Justice Dzamefe responded positively.
“There’s only one Supreme Court, but it can have multiple branches, just like the Court of Appeal or High Courts,” he explained. “If setting up a branch up north makes justice more accessible, I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
Justice Dzamefe’s vetting session covered his judicial philosophy, experience, and his broader vision for a responsive and efficient judiciary that meets the needs of every Ghanaian.
