Supreme Court nominee Justice Philip Bright Mensah has proposed an increase in the number of justices on Ghana’s highest court to 20, citing the growing workload and the court’s broad constitutional jurisdiction.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Justice Mensah highlighted the heavy caseload Supreme Court judges handle.
He noted that many cases initiated at the lower courts often end up at the apex court.
He further pointed out that even matters involving presidential prerogative, such as granting pardons, may be referred to the Supreme Court for advice, which adds to the workload.
Justice Mensah’s recommendation comes amid ongoing discussions about judicial reforms and access to justice in Ghana, with stakeholders increasingly calling for institutional strengthening to meet rising legal demands.
He said, “If the president is exercising his prerogative to set a convict free, and the president is not sure as to what he has intended, the constitution says that refer the matter to the Supreme Court for advice. So Mr. Chairman, you can see that the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is so wide that it has also created the opportunity for cases, more and more cases being filed in the Supreme Court.”
“It’ll interest, Mr. Chairman to note that in case that’s started in the lower courts, maybe there is a court can even travel as far as to the Supreme Court. Of course, when a case comes to the high court, and the person who lost is unsatisfied, he’ll go to the court of appeal. From court of appeal, if he loses again, and he wants to go up, he can go to the Supreme Court, subject to the leave of the Supreme Court.”
“So you will see that there are more and more cases. And as the cases burn up and they are expensive, it’s only fair and reasonable that judges must be recruited to deal with those cases.
So if you ask me the minimum number that I will recommend for appointment to the Supreme Court, given the nature of the work they do, they deal with so many cases. Therefore, I think I would suggest 20 as judges that should go to the Supreme Court, because matter of rule of procedure and it is also given back by the constitution.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
