Ghana Constitution     E-Judgment     E-Forms         Election Manual    Annual Reports     e-Justice Frequently Asked Questions       


Justice Dzamefe Advocates Reforms to Enhance Judiciary’s Efficiency and Integrity

The longest-serving Justice of the second highest court in Ghana; the Court of Appeal, His Lordship Justice Senyo Dzamefe has called for reforms aimed at enhancing justice delivery and public trust in the Judiciary.

He made the call when he appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on June 16, 2025, following his nomination by the President to the Supreme Court bench.

At his vetting, Justice Dzamefe responded to a number of issues including judicial ethics, innovations in the work of the Judiciary, staff motivation and media freedom, while emphasizing his commitment to improving efficiency, accountability, and ethics within the judicial system.


                                                          

He outlined five key principles every Judge must uphold: strict reliance on evidence and facts, appropriate conduct in dealing with parties before the court, judicial independence, political neutrality and mindfulness of public appearances and associations. These, he said, are vital to maintaining public confidence in the Judiciary.

Justice Dzamefe stressed the need to motivate judicial staff and enhance their working conditions, asserting that, "Anyone who wants to maximize productivity must first think of the human resources. That is, those who will give you the product."

                                                           

He proposed the establishment of more courts to reduce caseload burdens, as well as the provision of adequate working tools, and the integration of new technology such as artificial intelligence and voice recording tools to phase out longhand writing in courtrooms. He believes these reforms when implemented, will drastically improve the work of the Judiciary.

He further advocated for the expansion of the virtual court system, to enable litigants to access justice from anywhere. Justice Dzamefe proposed timelines for the hearing of court cases to avoid undue delays, reinforcing his stance on speedy justice as a key element of judicial credibility.

                                                           

Responding to questions on media freedom, Justice Dzamefe firmly supported investigative journalism and press freedom, while urging the media to uphold truth and fairness in their reportage.

                                                           

Drawing on his past experience as Chairman of the Regional Tribunal in Tema, Wa and Koforidua in 1988 and 1998 respectively, the experienced Judge recommended a return to public tribunals to make justice more accessible. He observed that ordinary citizens often felt more at ease appearing before tribunals than formal courts. He rejected suggestions that Judges use the law to silence tribunal members, stressing, “Justice emanates from the people.” He emphasized that Judges cannot unduly influence tribunal members.

JUDICIAL SERVICE OF GHANA

P.O. Box GP 119, Accra

Tel: (+233) 0302-663951, 663954, 666671

LAW COURT COMPLEX ACCRA

Tel: (+233) 0302-748100, 748101, 748102

 

We use cookies to improve our website. Cookies used for the essential operation of this site have already been set. For more information visit our Cookie policy. I accept cookies from this site. Agree