Acting CJ, Justices meet CRC, discuss ongoing Judicial reforms
The four-hour engagement, which took place on Thursday, September 25, at the Judicial Service Administration Conference Room, was chaired by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, who also serves as the Chief Justice-nominee.
The Constitution Review Committee (CRC) has held a high-level meeting with the Acting Chief Justice, Paul Kwadwo Baffoe-Bonnie, and several members of the bench to deliberate on judicial reforms as part of the ongoing review of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
The four-hour engagement, which took place on Thursday, September 25, at the Judicial Service Administration Conference Room, was chaired by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, who also serves as the Chief Justice-nominee.
According to CRC Chair, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, who shared highlights of the deliberations on Facebook, discussions revolved around fundamental questions about Ghana’s justice system.
“Among the issues that dominated the discussions were the size and jurisdictions of the Supreme Court and other superior courts, the roles and administrative powers and functions of the Chief Justice, procedures for appointment and removal of Superior Court judges, public perceptions of the judiciary, issues relating to judicial personnel and the delivery of justice in the Lower Courts, the financial independence of the judiciary, the role and status of the Judicial Secretary, and the composition and workings of the Judicial Council,” Prof. Prempeh noted.
He further described the deliberations as “frank, incisive, and highly constructive,” reflecting the reform-driven orientation of the CRC’s work.
Present at the meeting were not only justices of the Supreme Court but also representatives from the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and judges and magistrates of the Circuit and District Courts.
The CRC, an eight-member body set up by President John Dramani Mahama, has since August moved from broad zonal consultations to more targeted stakeholder engagements, including sessions with the Council of State, the Trades Union Congress, and the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA).
The committee is tasked with identifying gaps in past constitutional review exercises, gathering diverse views from citizens and institutions, and recommending reforms that will reinforce democratic governance.
Its membership brings together expertise from law, political science, and civil society, including Justice Sophia Adinyirah, Prof. Kwame Karikari, Mrs. Charlotte Osei, Dr. Godwin Djokoto, Ibrahim Tanko Amidu, Dr. Esi Ansah, and Dr. Rainer Akumperigeya (Secretary).
