Acting Chief Justice pushes for specialised Maritime and Trade courts

The Acting Chief Justice and Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has called for the establishment of specialised courts or dedicated divisions within Ghana’s judiciary to handle disputes related to maritime, logistics, and international trade.

He made the proposal during the opening of the 15th Maritime Law Seminar for Judges of the Superior Courts of Ghana in Accra on Friday, stressing that such reforms are crucial to strengthening Ghana’s legal and institutional framework under the new Ghana Shippers’ Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1122).

“Specialised courts or divisions dedicated to international trade and logistics will ensure expertise and efficiency in adjudication. The judiciary must be equipped to handle the increasing volume of trade-related disputes with clarity, fairness and consistency,” Justice Baffoe-Bonnie stated.

The two-day seminar, organised by the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA) in partnership with the Judicial Training Institute (JTI), aims to deepen judicial understanding of maritime regulations and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Other dignitaries at the opening included Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kolendi of the Supreme Court, Justice I.O. Tanko Amadu (Director of JTI), Judicial Secretary Musah Ahmed, Chief State Attorney Grace Opong-Dolphy, and Prof. Ransford Gyampo, Chief Executive Officer of the GSA.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie noted that Act 1122 had expanded the mandate of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority — transforming it from a shipper-advocacy body into a key regulatory institution overseeing efficiency across sea, air, rail, and road transport.

He emphasised that the judiciary’s role in interpreting and enforcing the new Act would be vital to ensuring compliance, fairness, and investor confidence, positioning Ghana as a maritime and logistics hub for West Africa.

According to the Chief Justice nominee, the creation of a specialised trade and logistics division would not only expedite dispute resolution but also promote predictability and legal certainty, both of which are critical to attracting investment in the shipping and transport sectors.

He commended the GSA and JTI for sustaining their long-standing collaboration in judicial capacity-building, adding that such partnerships help align Ghana’s adjudicatory system with international best practices.

Echoing the Chief Justice nominee’s sentiments, Prof. Ransford Gyampo described the proposal as “a step in the right direction”, arguing that it reflected a forward-looking response to the growing complexity of maritime trade.