Supreme Court nominee Justice Senyo Dzamefe has backed a proposal to increase the number of justices on Ghana’s apex court, arguing that a larger bench would help speed up the resolution of cases and reduce the mounting backlog.
Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, Justice Dzamefe said the current number of judges is insufficient to handle the court’s heavy workload.
“Our Supreme Court is overburdened with more than 400 cases each year, unlike the United States, where state courts help reduce the load,” he noted. Judicial Service data shows that in the 2022/23 legal year, 12 judges handled 344 cases, leaving 1,648 still pending.
He emphasised that expanding the bench would accelerate decisions, especially in land, chieftaincy, and constitutional cases. “Increasing the number of judges would speed up decisions,” he said.
Justice Dzamefe also called for modernising court operations through the adoption of digital technologies such as virtual hearings. He believes this would significantly reduce delays and improve access to justice.
The nominee further suggested setting strict timelines for court cases, proposing three months for criminal trials and six months for civil cases, to enhance efficiency. He also advocated for better tools and motivation for judicial staff.
On constitutional matters, Justice Dzamefe reaffirmed his commitment to uphold Ghana’s two-term presidential limit, citing Article 66(2) of the Constitution, which prohibits any individual from serving more than two terms as President.
Justice Dzamefe is one of seven justices nominated by President John Mahama in early 2025 to join the Supreme Court. The others include Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, Justice Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh, Justice Philip Bright Mensah, Justice Janapare Adzua Bartels-Kodwo, Justice Hafisata Amaleboba, and Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo.
These appointments were made under Article 144(2) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates the President to nominate Supreme Court justices in consultation with the Council of State and with parliamentary approval.
