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Tag: Courts

  • March 16–20 set for ADR Week to offer cheaper, faster delivery of justice – Chief Justice

    March 16–20 set for ADR Week to offer cheaper, faster delivery of justice – Chief Justice

    The Office of the Chief Justice has announced that March 16-20 will be observed as a week of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) nationwide.

    This was announced in a formal statement dated March 13 and directed all courts across the country to observe it as such as part of activities for the legal year term under the theme, Adoption of Innovation and Technology to enhance access to Justice Delivery through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)”

    “We wish to bring to the attention of the general public that the Chief Justice of Ghana, His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has declared Monday 16th to Friday 20th March, 2026, as ADR Week for this Legal Year Term….” parts of the statement read.

    The statement outlines two main reasons behind the week-long exercise. It explained that the exercise is to educate the general public on what ADR is and what benefits they stand to gain from it, and also offers quick resolutions of cases, particularly for the poor and vulnerable.

    “The rationale for the ADR Week is to allow the ADR Directorate of the Judicial Service to engage the general public on the presence of ADR within the court system, its importance in seeking justice, and how to take advantage of such an important process for meaningful access to justice, especially for the poor and the vulnerable. It is also to afford court users whose cases are pending before the courts the opportunity of using ADR during the week under what we call the “Mass Mediation Exercise”, the statement added.

    According to the Head of Judiciary, “One Hundred and Thirty-Eight (138) Courts nationwide, comprising Thirty-Five (35) Circuit Courts and One Hundred and Three (103) District Courts, shall participate by devoting the whole week to the settlement of court cases with ADR across the country”.

    Also, “There will be a Press Briefing at the High Court, Sunyani, in the Bono Region, on Monday, 16th March, 2026, at 10:00 am prompt, to mark the official opening of the ADR Week”, where the Honourable Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana will address the media.

    Consequently, all members of the public are urged to fully participate in the exercise to make it successful.

    “The Bar, court users, the media, and the public are therefore encouraged to participate fully and cooperate with the Judicial Service to make this Legal Year Term’s ADR Week

    a success. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) has been adopted by the Judicial Service of Ghana as part of its adjudication process, dubbed “Court-Connected ADR”. This programme aims to ensure that access to justice in Ghana is made easier, cheaper, non- adversarial, expeditious, and flexible to all, particularly the underprivileged and vulnerable.

    “Pursuant to this, the Chief Justice, in a policy directive on the Court-Connected ADR Programme, has instituted an ADR Week which is to be celebrated every Legal Year Term thrice, to allow parties to settle their cases through mediation and to run programmes and activities to create awareness of the availability of ADR as a complement to the adjudication process in the courts.” the statement closed.

    ADR and Ghana’s constitution

    The exercise is governed by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 2010 (Act 795). It is Ghana’s main law governing arbitration, mediation, and other non-court dispute resolution methods. It establishes clear rules for how ADR should be conducted, the powers of arbitrators and mediators, and how agreements reached through ADR can be enforced.

    The Act details several ADR mechanisms, including arbitration, mediation, customary arbitration, and the institutional framework

  • Kufuor committed grave atrocities against me, but I hold nothing against him – Tsatsu Tsikata

    Kufuor committed grave atrocities against me, but I hold nothing against him – Tsatsu Tsikata

    Renowned legal expert Tsatsu Tsikata has opened up about the events leading to his imprisonment, pointing fingers at former President John Agyekum Kufuor for orchestrating what he describes as grave injustices against him.

    In a candid interview with GHOne TV, Tsikata alleged that Kufuor was resolute in his efforts to see him behind bars, employing every means to ensure his incarceration.

    Despite these events, which he perceives as a violation of his fundamental human rights, Tsikata emphasized that he harbors no bitterness toward the former president. He shared that he has maintained a cordial demeanor during their encounters, choosing forgiveness over resentment.

    “There is nothing to forgive. I say to people, I have never had any bitterness or grievance against President Kufuor. He did atrocious things against me for whatever reason. He was determined to have me go to prison, and I did go to prison.

    “It was orchestrated by him on June 18, 2008. I was in prison for five months, but by God’s grace, I didn’t die in prison. I was evacuated to the hospital, and by God’s grace, I’m still alive,” he added.

    Tsatsu Tsikata also opened up on why he rejected a presidential pardon from Kufuor, stating that the former president acted in bad faith.

    “On his last day in office, he offered me a pardon, but I rejected it because it was in bad faith. It was clearly in bad faith. He had orchestrated everything. The day I was being sentenced, the court had not even announced it was going to give a decision because the trial hadn’t ended. It had been set up for me to go to jail, and I went,” he stated.

    Sharing his lessons from the ordeal, Tsatsu Tsikata stated that the five months at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison exposed him to the horrible incidents and injustices of Ghana’s criminal system.

    According to him, while there, he crossed paths with people who had been on remand for more than a decade with their cases not heard.

    The legal luminary stated, “I actually thank God for that experience. I tell people that going to Nsawam Prison took me to another faculty of law. I engaged with many who were in prison, and I realised that there were people suffering injustices who did not have the kind of recourse that I had.

    “I had the opportunity of a lawyer who gave it all to protect my rights. A lot of those people didn’t have that. I saw people who were in prison for 12 years, and nobody has gone to court on their behalf,” he said.

    Tsatsu acquitted and discharged by Court of Appeal

    After eight years of legal battle, Tsatsu Tsikata was cleared of the charges, and the conviction was reversed unanimously by the Court of Appeal, which acquitted and discharged him.

    Justice Dennis Adjei said there was a miscarriage of justice when an Accra Fast Track High Court on June 18, 2008, found him guilty on three counts of willfully causing financial loss of GH¢230,000 to the state and another count of misapplying public property.

    In a 2021 interview with KSM, he said of the saga: “I think I said it nicely. I wrote him a letter on my hospital bed, and I said I will not accept his pardon, and I wouldn’t accept it.

    “By then, I already had an appeal pending against the decision that had been taken. I wanted to be vindicated, not pardoned. When you are pardoned, it means that your conviction still stands, but the penalty has been wiped away.”

    Expressing delight at the overturned verdict, Tsikata quoted Psalm 94:15: “Justice will again be found in the courts, and all righteous people will support it,” and emphasised that, indeed “justice has been found in the courts.”

  • e-Justice system: 116 additional courts automated, tally now 228

    e-Justice system: 116 additional courts automated, tally now 228

    A total of 116 courts have recently been automated, raising the nationwide count to 228. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of recording court proceedings.

    At the third Chief Justice’s Meeting with the Judicial Press Corps (JPC), Mr. Noble Kekeli Nutifafa, Director of ICT at the Judicial Service, reported that as of July 2024, 71,781 cases had been filed through the e-Justice system.

    The e-Justice, also known as Paperless Courts, is part of the government’s e-Transform Programme designed to modernize the court’s manual filing processes.

    The e-Justice system facilitates e-filing of cases, e-payment, and document requests related to court decisions. The initiative is set to be expanded to all high courts across the country. Additionally, an e-bail tracking system has been developed to monitor surety documents and track the movement of documents within the Registries.

    Mr. Nutifafa highlighted the introduction of a Document Management System aimed at improving information retrieval, preservation, data management, cost efficiency, transparency, and disaster recovery.

    Upcoming projects include the implementation of e-signatures/digital signatures, court alerts and notifications, National Transcription Centers, an Electronic Case Management System, a Digitalised Land Database, and a speech-to-text mechanism.

    Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo announced that on August 6, 2024, the Small Claims Debt Recovery Courts would be launched in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions.

    These courts will initially operate on a pilot basis and have been established with the support of Quick Credit and Investment Micro-Credit Limited. The goal is to expedite trials and reduce the backlog of cases.

    The Chief Justice also noted that the Judicial Service is focusing on digitizing its operations to address land litigation issues. An expert committee, including judges and surveyors, will be formed to develop strategies aimed at reducing land-related disputes.

  • Let’s lighten the load of cases next year – Chief Justice Torkornoo to Ghanaians

    Let’s lighten the load of cases next year – Chief Justice Torkornoo to Ghanaians


    Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, in her Christmas speech, has delivered a heartfelt appeal to the citizens of Ghana, urging them to actively participate in reducing the caseload in the courts during the upcoming year, 2024.

    Christmas, a globally celebrated annual Christian festival marking the birth of Jesus Christ, holds significant cultural and religious importance and is observed primarily on December 25.

    In her message, Chief Justice Torkornoo seized the occasion to implore Ghanaians to contribute towards lightening the judicial burden and fostering increased peace within the beloved nation.

    She emphasized the importance of treating fellow citizens with fairness and equity, underlining the role of justice and goodwill in building a harmonious society.

    “As we wind down from the year 2023 and gear up to the year 2024, I wish that in our reflections as a nation, we will reflect on the message by the angels that announced the birth of Jesus Christ – Peace on earth and goodwill to all men. Let us endeavour to give fair treatment to all,” she said.

    Looking forward, she encouraged Ghanaians to embrace the principles of peace and goodwill, striving for fairness and impartiality in their interactions.

    The Chief Justice’s message carried a poignant reminder of the importance of embodying the values of justice, equality, and compassion in the year ahead, fostering a sense of unity and shared responsibility among the people of Ghana.

    Please read full message below:

    This is to wish the beautiful people of Ghana, starting from His Excellency President Akufo-Addo, to the last baby born in the last few hours, a very Happy Christmas and a restful holiday season.

    Christmas is a good time to remember the most critical event in human history- the birth of God as a human being. John 1:14 states that the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 9:6, the following words; for onto us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government shall be on his shoulders and he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

    As we wind down from the year 2023 and gear up to the year 2024, I wish that in our reflections as a nation, we will reflect on the message by the angels that announced the birth of Jesus Christ – Peace on earth and goodwill to all men. Let us endeavour to give fair treatment to all, and reduce the nation’s burden of cases in the courts and increase peace in our beloved country through this.

    “Afehyia paoo, afi nko betohen. Nyame Nhyia yen nyinaa.”

    May the Lord bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong.

  • Martin Kpebu explains factors behind GHS2400 fine for UTV NPP invaders”

    Martin Kpebu explains factors behind GHS2400 fine for UTV NPP invaders”

    The recent Accra High Court decision to impose a GHS2400 fine on New Patriotic Party (NPP) members who stormed UTV, an Accra-based TV station, has led to intense scrutiny of the courts, Ghana Police Service, and the Office of the Attorney General.

    Some members of the public have criticized this fine, alleging that it is too low and suggesting that it’s influenced by the offenders’ affiliation with the ruling NPP.

    However, prominent lawyer Martin Kpebu has offered an explanation for the court’s decision to levy a GHS2400 fine on the intruders.

    In an interview with the media, Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu discussed the factors that may have contributed to this specific fine.

    He emphasized that the UTV trespassers’ admission of guilt and their avoidance of prolonging court proceedings and wasting resources were significant factors that contributed to the judge’s decision to impose a fine of 20 penalty points, equivalent to GHS 2400.

    “When an accused person comes to court and admits his guilt straight away on day one, when the charges are read, the punishment is usually far lower than if he says I’m not guilty and the court spends years in determining the case… If the accused says he is not guilty and the case is dragged through a full trial to the end, then the sentence is usually much, much higher.

    “The next thing you need to look at is that when you take this particular case, these are first-timers, and that is another factor the court considers in coming up with sentences. As far as I am aware, these are first-timers, and first-timers are not dealt with in a deterrent fashion like a repeat offender,” he said.

    The lawyer further explained that the accused individuals faced charges related to a misdemeanor, including conspiracy to commit a crime and rioting, typically resulting in fines and a maximum prison sentence of 3 years.

    He pointed out that the conviction of the NPP members who stormed the TV station is a noteworthy development. This conviction will have long-lasting consequences, potentially affecting their future opportunities and casting a shadow over them wherever they go.

    “…the positive is that these young men are now convicts; they have been convicted of a criminal offence. So, today, if they are filing a visa form to go to the US or the UK, there is a portion that they would ask, ‘Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense?”

    “They (the UTV invaders) have to tick yes and sometimes there would be penalties for it. They are even likely to be denied visas and other important services,” he said.

  • World Bank grants allocation of $125m to bolster capacity of sanitation ministry

    The World Bank has approved a funding of $125 million for Ghana aimed at enhancing the capacity of environmental officers.

    This allocation is intended to empower these officers in the prosecution of sanitation-related offenses within the judicial system, under the purview of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources.

    This funding initiative follows a prior disbursement of $150 million by the World Bank in 2015, which was directed towards piloting the project in the Greater and Ashanti Regions of Ghana over a five-year period.

    During a two-day workshop held in Wa and attended by 40 environmental officers selected from the Upper East and Upper West regions, Charlotte Akwaah Adjei Marfo, the Programme Manager of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, emphasized that the enforcement of sanitation laws would significantly contribute to the improvement of sanitation conditions in the country and help mitigate flood disasters.

    “The workshop for environmental officers drawn from the Upper West and East Regions marked the take-off of the second phase of the project scheduled to end in 2024.

    “Some of the topics discussed at the workshop were the jurisdiction of the courts, the code of ethics for the environmental health prosecutors, summary trial of cases, and drafting of summons and charge sheets among others,” the report said.

  • Assault case in Adisadel College could have been handled out of court – Joe Wise

    Assault case in Adisadel College could have been handled out of court – Joe Wise

    First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, also known as Joe Wise, has raised concerns about the declining standards of discipline in Ghana’s educational sector.

    He believes that it is crucial to reevaluate the upbringing of young people to ensure they become more responsible adults in the future.

    Speaking at the 10th-anniversary celebration of Fettehman Senior High School over the weekend, he also commented on the widely known Adisadel College assault case.

    “We should look at how we bring up children in this country since it is becoming a challenge. The kind of upbringing is important. There is no need for him to be that violent towards another student.

    “If we discuss this in isolation, we would miss it. What happened in the school is a reflection of what is happening in the country. We think we are not supposed to punish students and this is how we pay for it as a country.

    “There is nothing wrong with students being at each other, but when it gets beyond regular bullying, it is bad. I regret that it has been taken to the court since this matter could have been addressed in the school, but the Attorney General thinks otherwise,” Joseph Osei-Owusu said.

    He expressed the belief that, although the act was condemnable, a more effective approach to address the situation would have been to counsel both the victim and the perpetrator, allowing them to focus on their studies and future prospects.

    The individual responsible for the assault, who forcefully slammed his colleague’s head against a bunk bed causing swelling, was brought before the court late last week. As a consequence of his actions, he was expelled from the school and would only be permitted to write his WASSCE exams under the supervision of WAEC.

    The Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Education, and other relevant stakeholders took the matter seriously once the video of the incident went viral on social media.

  • Akufo-Addo blasts Mahama over his politicised Judiciary comments

    Akufo-Addo blasts Mahama over his politicised Judiciary comments

    During the New Patriotic Party’s final rally before the June 27 by-election in Assin North, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo engaged in a spirited exchange with his predecessor, John Dramani Mahama.

    Mahama, who had previously spoken at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) final rally in Gangan, expressed his concerns about the politicization of the courts, which resulted in the removal of James Gyakye Quayson from his position as a Member of Parliament.

    This removal subsequently necessitated the by-election.

    Akufo-Addo blasted Mahama for the comments describing it as unfortunate but unsurprising for a man who ever said that ‘Ghanaians are forgetful.’

    The president referred to the case of NPP MP Adamu Dramani Sakande who was jailed during Mahama’s presidency over a dual citizenship case, a similar incident to what Quayson is facing in an Accra High Court.

    “John Mahama says if not for politics, what the courts have said of Mr. Quayson will not be. Essentially that the Supreme Court has been politicized. Ghanaians easily forget and that is why he said that.

    “What happened to Adamu Dramani Sakande during his presidency, he seems to have forgotten. It is the exact same thing that has befallen Quayson.

    “Was it politics that led to Sakande’s jailing during his presidency? Why is he relating it to that now, let us be truthful, we should be truthful, people should stop lying to people in the villages,” he jabbed.

    He drummed the advantages of choosing the NPP’s Charles Opoku over Quayson stressing that the constituency needs someone from the ruling party and not a lawmaker who could potentially be in jail or who would be frequenting the courts during his tenure.

    “Don’t elect someone who will be frequenting the courts – Appeal, Supreme, High Courts, that is not what you need. I came to appeal to you to elect a lawmaker who can join government to continue the work government is executing in Assin North.

    “Ghanaians are forgetful, does such a person think well of Ghanaians? We are not a forgetful people. What happened to Sakande, it is on the same path Quayson is traveling. It is not for me to say.

    “The NPP is not interested in intimidating or scaring him, it is the laws that are after him, it is not me scaring him, it is the laws. If the laws come after you, it is not Nana Addo, it is the law,” Akufo-Addo stressed stating that he has never sought to influence the courts in his time in office.

    The by-election has attracted a lot of political activity in the past few weeks. Campaigns ended on June 25 ahead of the vote.

  • Be thorough and appropriate – Chief Justice advises judicial service staff

    Be thorough and appropriate – Chief Justice advises judicial service staff

    Justice Anin Yeboah, Ghana’s Chief Justice, has tasked the personnel of the Judiciary Service with carrying out their jobs with diligence and professionalism in order to give hope to the helpless who depend on the courts.

    Speaking during the commissioning of the Kasoa High Court, Justice Anin Yeboah underscored the need to have decent courts across the country to help in the resolution of disputes and therefore, admonished the judicial staff to be professional in their dealings.

    “I urge the staff to exhibit a high level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties and I will want to remind them that most clients who patronise our services are often physically and emotionally distressed and they will need comfort and help as they turn to the courts for justice.”

    The Chief Justice also warned the staff against vices such as extortion and urged the public to report any judicial officer who indulges in the act for onward action to be taken.

    “Harassments of all forms including the threat and extortion of money from people who come to the court for redress is the cruellest way of treating our own people and I urge the public to stand firm and refuse to yield to the unsanctioned demands of judicial officers and don’t be afraid to report such judicial officers for actions to be taken against them.”

    He further disclosed that the Kasoa District Court will later this year be retooled to serve as a child-friendly gender-based court to handle domestic violence cases which are on the rise within the Kasoa enclave.

  • Meet Nii Amon Kotei, the surveyor who designed Ghana’s Coat of Arms

    Meet Nii Amon Kotei, the surveyor who designed Ghana’s Coat of Arms

    Nii Amon Kotei, was a renowned artist who, on March 4, 1957, created the Ghana’s Coat of Arms.

    Amon Kotei was born on 24 May 1915, at La, near Accra, and trained as a surveyor.

    He was commissioned to do the design by Ghana’s first President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the then British Colonial administration as independence drew near in 1957.

    It symbolizes government sanction and it is found at important Government places like the Osu Castle, the Courts and other government offices.

    The Ghana Coat of Arms, found on all government official letter heads, is composed of a shield, divided into four quarters by a green St. George’s Cross, rimmed with gold. However it has not been changed and remains what was originally produced by Amon Kotei.

    Nii Amon kotei , designer of Coat of arms of Ghana
    National coat of arms of the Republic of Ghana. 

    Composition :

    The Ghana Coat of Arms is composed of a shield, divided into four quarters by a green St. George’s Cross, rimmed with gold. The following are the symbols in the quarters and their meanings.

    1. Crossed linguist staff and ceremonial sword on a blue background
      Position: Top left-hand quarter.
      Represents local administration
    2. A heraldic castle on a heraldic sean with a light blue background
      Position: Top right-hand quarter.
      Represents National Government
    3. A Cocoa Tree
      Position: Bottom left hand quarter.
      Represents the Agricultural wealth of the country
    4. A Mine Shaft
      Position: Bottom right hand quarter.
      Represents the mineral wealth of the country
    5. A Gold Lion
      Position: In the centre of the green St. George’s Cross.
      Represents the continued link between Ghana and the Commonwealth
    6. Black five pointed star rimmed with gold standing on the wreath of red, gold and green colours
      Position: Surmounting (On top of) the shield.
      Represents the lodestar of African Freedom
    7. Two Eagles, around each of whose neck hangs a black star suspended from a ribbon of Ghana colours – red, gold and green
      Position: Supporting the shield (Coat of Arms).
      Signifies a protector with strength, very clear and attentive eyes keeping watch over the country
    8. The motto FREEDOM AND JUSTICE is found beneath the shield.
    Nii Amon Kotei, the acclaimed designer of the coat of arms of Ghana. He was a Ghanaian artist (sculpture, painter and musician) and surveyor.

    Nii Amon Kotei studied under a scholarship at Achimota School and later received a scholarship to study art at the London School of Printing and Graphic Art from 1949 to 1952.

    Kotei also fought for the Royal West African Frontier Force during World War II. and also worked in the Cartographic Division of the Army. He drew maps and plans for use by soldiers on the war front. He also taught in Achimota School.

    Amon Kotei was awarded the State Honour of Grand Medal, Civil Division, Coat of Arms Design presented to him on Friday, 7 March 1997, by then president Jerry John Rawlings. He received several other awards.

    Nii Amon Kotei died on 17 October 2011, after which the parliament of Ghana paid tribute to him.

    Bibliography:

    1. “Amon Kotei, Designer of the Ghana Coat Of Arms”. Ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
    2. “Amon Kotei”. Hourglassgallery.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
    3. “La Traditional Council Honours Renowned Artist”. Ghanamma.com. Retrieved 20 September 2012.

  • Singapore activist picks jail over fine for criticising courts

    A Singaporean activist said Tuesday he had begun serving a one-week jail term after refusing to pay a fine for questioning the independence of the city-state’s judiciary in a Facebook post.

    Jolovan Wham was sentenced last year to a fine of Sg$5,000 (US$3,500) following a conviction for contempt of court — but he did not pay, meaning he must serve the short prison sentence instead.

    While wealthy and modern in many ways, rights groups say the city-state uses unnecessarily harsh laws to curb dissent, and have held up Wham’s sentence as evidence of this.

    He had alleged in his post that Singapore’s judiciary lacked integrity and independence in cases involving the government or politicians.

    Wham, who is also an advocate for migrant workers’ rights, appealed his conviction but it was dismissed by Singapore’s highest court.

    In a Twitter post Tuesday morning, Wham said he was surrendering himself to the police to start serving his sentence after a send-off from supporters.

    “I’m doing this in lieu of a 5k fine because I do not recognise the legitimacy of the (judgement) and the law, both of which are unjust,” he said.

    Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said Wham “did nothing wrong and Singapore is blatantly violating his human rights by imprisoning him.

    “Every time Singapore imprisons a critic… the country’s modern image gets another black mark.”

    Passing sentence last year, a judge said that Wham “did not show any remorse” even after conviction.

    It was Wham’s latest run-in with the authorities. He had previously been fined Sg$3,200 for organising an illegal public discussion that featured prominent Hong Kong democracy campaigner Joshua Wong speaking via Skype.

    His cases are among several that have alarmed rights groups, including that of a Singapore website editor charged with defamation and a lawsuit brought by the premier against a blogger.

    Source: AFP