Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has set up Specialised Divisions at the High Court (Specialised High Court Divisions), to from time to time hear illegal mining and other cases that would be filed before them.
The move forms part of efforts by the Judiciary to ensure expedite hearing of cases as well as avoid creating a backlog of cases in the already existing division of the High Court.
Just last month, the Chief Justice indicated that the “Judicial Service continues to pursue reforms aimed at improving access to justice, enhancing efficiency and strengthening public confidence.”
The Chief Justice is empowered under Section 14(3) of the Courts Act, 1993 (Act 459), to create “such divisions consisting such number of Justices respectively as the Chief Justice may determine.”
A circular issued by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie indicated that the Specialised High Court Divisions will hear cases including causes or matters, criminal or civil, emanating from the Reports of the Auditor-General.
The Specialised High Court Divisions will also hear causes or matters, criminal or civil, relating to the provision of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).
The new Divisions will again be conducting criminal or civil matters relating to degradation of the environment.
Others include criminal or civil matters arising under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), criminal or civil cases involving recovery of property in which the state has an interest.
The court will further hear causes or matters arising under the Narcotic Drugs (Control, Enforcement and Sanctions) Law, 1990 (PNDCL 236), causes or matters arising under the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), as well as “such other causes or matters as the Chief Justice may by writing direct.”
BY Gibril Abdul Razak