I am for the set up of tribunals; we need more of them – Justice Dzamefe

Appearing before the Appointments Committee for vetting on Monday, June 16, 2025 he said the tribunals will help reduce the case burden on the courts as more criminal cases will go to the tribunals.

Justice Dzamefe explained that as Justice emanates from the people, it is only prudent that the tribunals are established.

“I am always for the setting up of the tribunals because we say we have too many cases pending and cases delay. If we set up more courts, it is going to alleviate that situation.

”Secondly, we should not lose sight of the fact that the qualification of the tribunal chairmen is the same as High Court Judge. It is just that two ordinary people who are not lawyers are to help him,” he said.

He added: “It is just the nomenclature but the jobs done are virtually the same. And then more criminal cases will go to the tribunals because they would not do civil cases.

“So, it gives more chance to the mainstream court to have more chance for the civil cases. Justice emanates from the people why don’t we give them courts and the constitution says it has to be done so it has to be done.”

Justice Senyo Dzamefe also said persons standing trial who have appeared before tribunal in the past were more relaxed  than in a regular court trial.

He explained that due to the setup of the regional tribunals; two non-legal experts who are Ghanaians and one Judge, a lawyer, individuals become too comfortable before the tribunals.

The nominee made the statement while he was responding to a question from Okaikwei Central MP, PatriCk Yaw Boamah about whether he will advocate the setting up of tribunals again to assist with justice delivery in the country.

“That’s exactly what I will do but unfortunately, it’s a wrong perception. People are more relaxed when they appear before the tribunals because the panel is three; two ordinary people and the Judge who is a lawyer, they are more relaxed from my experience,” he said.