Supreme Court nominee Justice Hafisata Amaleboba has pointed to the shortage of judges and procedural bottlenecks as key reasons behind the persistent delays in Ghana’s justice delivery system.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Wednesday, June 18, Justice Amaleboba emphasized that the limited number of judges across the judiciary is a major contributor to the backlog of cases.
“Lack of manpower or enough judges is to blame for delays in cases,” she stated. “The processes and procedures are a factor too. Also, the timelines may have to be looked at.”
She explained that while setting timelines for cases could help speed up adjudication, such reforms must also consider the workload each judge carries. “If we have to indicate timelines for cases, then we have to also look at the number of cases handled by each judge,” she added.
Justice Amaleboba’s comments come at a time when the judiciary is under pressure to improve efficiency and reduce the number of pending cases. Her remarks echo concerns raised by legal practitioners and civil society groups about the need for systemic reforms within the courts.
On the issue of access to justice, she also called for greater commitment to legal aid, urging the Ghana Bar Association to play a more active role. “The Ghana Bar Association should encourage every lawyer to do some pro-bono work,” she said, highlighting the importance of ensuring that all citizens, regardless of income, can access legal representation.
Justice Amaleboba is one of seven nominees put forward by President John Mahama for appointment to the Supreme Court. Her vetting forms part of a broader effort to strengthen the judiciary and address long-standing challenges in the legal system
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