Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, (2nd L) with Vice President Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang (2nd R) and other dignitaries
Chief Justice (CJ) Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has disclosed that the Judiciary is set to commence the automation of courts across the country starting October 2026, as the institution positions itself to enhance justice delivery.
The initiative, which will start from the Supreme Court, to be followed by the Court of Appeal and the High Court, encompasses several innovative measures being introduced in the justice delivery system as measures are put in place to increase access to quality justice delivery in the country.
Speaking at a durbar to climax the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court at the University of Professional Studies in Accra yesterday, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said the Judiciary is formally approaching a new era through the implementation of electronic filing, electronic authentication, and electronic service of court processes.
He said the initiative is not mere technological flourish but a statement of institutional direction.
“It reflects our determination to ensure that access to justice is no longer unnecessarily constrained by bureaucracy or avoidable delays,” he said.
The Chief Justice said the initiative forms part of the broader e-justice agenda through which the Judiciary is steadily building a modern judicial system that remains faithful to its enduring values while embracing the opportunities of a rapidly changing world.
He noted that the absence of justice must increasingly reflect the realities of the 21st century.
He, however, pointed out that technology should never replace justice, but should make justice more accessible, more efficient, and ultimately more responsive to those it exists to serve.
He also disclosed that the Judiciary has undertaken what is perhaps the most comprehensive review of the rules of court in more than two decades, noting that “the existing rules have served this nation well, but procedure must never become an obstacle to justice.”
He said the revised rules, which will be laid in Parliament at the beginning of October, therefore seek to simplify practise, reduce unnecessary technicality, improve efficiency, and better reflect the realities of contemporary litigation.
“They represent another important step towards a justice system that is both principled and practical,” he said.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie also indicated that as the Supreme Court marks its 150th milestone, the next chapter of the Judiciary will be written by the decisions the courts make, the reforms the Judiciary pursues, by the integrity it demonstrates, and the courage with which they defend the constitution and the confidence the Ghanaian people continue to place in them.
He expressed optimism about the future of the Judiciary, pointing to a “shared national determination that our institutions must continue to grow stronger, that justice must become more accessible, and that the rule of law must remain the fair foundation upon which our republic stands.”
Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, said a confident democracy requires confident institutions, and government therefore regards the strengthening of the justice sector as an essential investment in Ghana’s democratic future and national development agenda.
She said a milestone has been achieved in that regard through the work of the Constitution Review Committee which has submitted its report to government after months of extensive consultations with citizens, institutions and stakeholders across the country.
“A constitutional review is never simply about altering legal provisions. At its best, it is a national exercise in reflection. It asks whether our institutions continue to serve the aspirations of our people and whether they remain equipped to respond to the demands of an evolving society,” she said.
The Vice President added that government remains committed to working with the leadership of the judiciary, parliament, academia and civil society to ensure that reforms advancing the administration of justice receive the careful attention they deserve.
The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State, Togbe Afede XIV, who chaired the occasion, on his part, said the Supreme Court and the justice delivery system at large is responsive to changes in the environment it finds itself “and that adaptability is what I believe has sustained it for the past 150 years.”
He, however, admitted that there are still challenges in justice delivery in Ghana, including access to justice, and financial barriers which are denying many Ghanaians access to legal service.
He said the future and success of the Judiciary depends on the collective efforts of Ghanaians, and called for collaborations to strengthen the institution.
Some former Justices of the Supreme Court, including William Atuguba, Barbara Ackah-Yensu, Vida Akoto Bamfo, Jones Dotse, and Clemence Honyenugah, were present at the celebration.
Also in attendance were the Chief Justice of Sierra Leone and a representative of the Chief Justice of The Gambia, who all praised the Supreme Court for delivering decisions that have been recognised across the African continent.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak