Appointment of more judges necessary to curtail overburdened court system – Akufo-Addo

President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that the establishment of more courts in the country requires the appointment of more judges to take care of them.

He has therefore defended the appointment of more judges to the courts, saying the increasing workload on the judges requires additional hands to ease the burden.

The President’s stance, is in contrast with that of the head of the Legislature who thinks the number of judges at the courts, especially the apex court, should be capped.

Following the nomination of two judges to the Supreme Court to replace retiring ones, amid concerns of proposals from the Chief Justice to increase the recent number from 15 to 20, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin, has called for a legislation to cap the number of judges at the Supreme Court.

At the swearing-in ceremony of 16 new Appeals Court judges at the Jubilee House Tuesday, July 23, 2024, the President indicated that more judges are needed to meet up with the increasing demand.

“The significant expansion of the personnel of the Court of Appeal occasioned by the appointment of these 16 new justices of Appeal which is a direct response to the challenge of an overburdened court system.

“The Chief Justice has decided with the support of the judicial council to establish permanent panels of the Court of Appeals in five locations, Sekondi, Koforidua, Kumasi, Tamale and Accra,” the President said.

Source:onuaonline.com