Government is committed to justice sector reforms -Veep

The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s justice sector, describing it as a critical investment in the country’s democratic future.

Speaking at a grand durbar to climax the 150th anniversary celebration of the Supreme Court, Professor Opoku-Agyemang said strong and independent institutions remained the bedrock of a vibrant democracy, stressing that the government was determined to implement reforms that would enhance public confidence in the justice system.

She disclosed that the government was studying the recommendations of the Constitution Review Committee, which had submitted its report to the President, and would soon issue a position paper outlining its position on the proposed constitutional reforms.

According to the Vice-President, the reforms would be pursued in collaboration with the Judiciary, Parliament, academia and civil society organisations to strengthen democratic accountability and reinforce public trust in state institutions.

The celebration also saw the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, announce a major digital transformation of the Judiciary, revealing that electronic filing, electronic authentication and electronic service of court processes would commence on October 1, 2026.

He explained that the initiative would begin at the Supreme Court before being extended to the Court of Appeal and the High Court, as part of a broader e-justice programme aimed at making justice delivery faster, more efficient and less burdened by bureaucracy.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie further announced that a comprehensive review of the rules of court – the first in more than two decades – had been completed.

The revised rules, he said, would be laid before Parliament at the beginning of the next legal year in October.

The reforms, he noted, were designed to simplify court procedures, reduce unnecessary technicalities and align legal practice with the realities of modern litigation.

He stressed that sustaining public confidence remained the Judiciary’s greatest responsibility.

“Public confidence is the Judiciary’s most valuable, but most fragile asset. It cannot be legislated or bought; it must be earned continuously by successive generations of judges,” he said.

The Chief Justice also welcomed the recent passage of the Legal Education Act, saying it would improve legal education and better equip lawyers and judges to respond to the demands of an increasingly technological and commercial justice system.

He urged all stakeholders to support the reforms, describing the justice system as an integral part of Ghana’s constitutional framework.

“The justice system is part of a larger constitutional architecture. Its effectiveness depends not only upon just laws, but upon the collective commitment of all, who bear responsibility for the governance of our nation,” he stated.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, also underscored the need for stronger collaboration between the Attorney-General’s Department and the Judiciary.

He described the relationship between the two institutions as fraternal, founded on a shared commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law.

“When state lawyers appear before the courts, they do so as officers of justice testing legal arguments, not as adversaries seeking victory,” he said.

Dr Ayine noted that Article 130 of the 1992 Constitution vested the Supreme Court with exclusive authority to interpret and enforce the Constitution, describing it as a deliberate national choice to have constitutional disputes resolved through law rather than politics.

He pledged the Attorney-General’s Office’s full support for the Judiciary’s digital transformation agenda, including the rollout of electronic filing systems and virtual court hearings.

Chairman of the event, the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli Traditional Area, Togbe Afede XIV, called for reforms to the appointment of Supreme Court justices, advocating the introduction of a constitutional cap on the number of judges to prevent any future expansion for political purposes.

He observed that although the Supreme Court was the country’s final court, it was not infallible and should remain open to reviewing previous legal interpretations when necessary.

Togbe Afede XIV also expressed concern over the high cost of litigation, describing the legal profession as increasingly profit-driven in ways that denied many citizens access to justice.

He called for measures to eliminate financial barriers and make the justice system more accessible to all Ghanaians.

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