Accra: Justice Senyo Dzamefe, a nominee to the Supreme Court, has expressed support for a proposal to increase the number of justices on the Supreme Court bench. He argues that having more judges would help the court address its backlog of cases more efficiently.
According to Ghana News Agency, Justice Dzamefe made these remarks during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee. He stated that increasing the number of judges would expedite decisions on land, chieftaincy, and constitutional matters. He pointed out that the Supreme Court is currently overburdened with more than 400 cases each year, unlike the United States, where state courts help reduce the load. Statistics from the judicial service reveal that 12 judges handled 344 cases in the 2022/2023 legal year, leaving 1,648 cases pending.
Justice Dzamefe also shared his views on constitutional and national issues. He emphasized the need for the country to adopt digital technology, including virtual hearings, to speed up court proceedings. He advocated for adequate working tools and staff motivation to aid judicial staff in dispensing cases expeditiously. Additionally, he suggested that timelines should be assigned to cases, proposing at least three months for criminal cases and six months for civil cases.
Justice Dzamefe reaffirmed his commitment to upholding Ghana’s constitutional provision on presidential term limits. He expressed his respect for Article 66(2) of the Constitution, which stipulates that a person cannot hold office as President of Ghana for more than two terms.
Earlier this year, President John Mahama nominated seven justices from the Court of Appeals bench to the Supreme Court. The nominees include Justice Senyo Dzamefe, 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. The President’s nomination is based on Article 144(2) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires the President to appoint Justices of the Supreme Court in consultation with the Council of State and with the approval of Parliament.