On how the new certificates work, she stated, “It is the aim of the Judicial Service to ensure that people do not procure fraudulent divorce certificates and documents and parade them as coming from within the Judicial Service.”

She added, “Each certificate would have a barcode so that if you have a smartphone, you can scan the code and that will tell you whether or not the certificate is coming from within the Judicial Service.” The certificates will also bear electronic signatures and official seals, she said, to further enhance authenticity.

When asked about how the Judiciary is addressing forgery attempts, Justice Hafisata Amaleboba noted, that judicial staff have been trained to detect fake documents and are required to report any suspicious cases to the police. She explained, “We are yet to start work on the attestation unit and the intention is to digitalize the attestation unit so that we take out the manual attestations which can be forged.” She warned, “If it is realized that the document is a forged document, you will be reported to the police and you’ll be arrested.”

Justice Hafisata Amaleboba, further addressed the widespread concern over prolonged litigation in Ghana’s courts, emphasizing the need for improved court efficiency through technology. On court delays, she said plainly, “Court delays do not serve justice.” She made a case for better resources, particularly in underserved areas, stating, “We must equip our courts, especially in underserved areas with digital tools to fast-track cases.”

Regarding claims of gender bias in family law, Justice Hafisata Amaleboba, dismissed the notion, explaining that the courts apply fairness irrespective of gender. She recounted a case to illustrate this, saying, “When it comes to family law, the principles are applicable equally to men as it does to women. I once awarded a property to a man because the woman acquired it during the marriage. The law protects fairness.”