Ghana's new chief justice: Gertrude Tokornoo faces challenges, but could help transform the country's courts
Her Ladyship Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo took office as the 15th ,chief justice of Ghana on 12 June 2023.
- Her Ladyship Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo took office as the 15th ,chief justice of Ghana on 12 June 2023.
- Ghana’s judiciary is made up of the supreme court, the court of appeal, high court and magistrate (district) court.
What should be the new chief justice’s immediate areas of concern?
- The Alternative Dispute Resolution project started by Georgina Woode, a former chief justice, should be sped up and spread across the entire country.
- It is also suggested that the chief justice consider setting up small claims courts across the country to resolve disputes through informal procedures.
- Another issue that will require the chief justice’s urgent attention is the reform of legal education in Ghana.
- The new chief justice has been at the forefront in the push for digitisation, including working with Ghana Case Tracking System.
What are the big issues facing the judiciary?
- More than 85% of Ghanaians said “some” judges and magistrates were corrupt, and 40% said this about “most” or “all” court officials.
- Inefficiency: One area of inefficiency is tardiness in the delivery of justice in time-sensitive cases.
- It took the supreme court over two years to deliver a unanimous decision declaring the act of the president unconstitutional.
- The chief justice needs to be bold, assertive and uncompromising in her work to restore the image of the judiciary.