Chief Justice proposes specialised courts for galamsey, PAC-linked offences

Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie is proposing new specialised courts to speed up two categories of cases he says repeatedly expose gaps in enforcement: illegal mining (galamsey) prosecutions and financial irregularities flagged in reports of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

He made the pitch during a courtesy call on Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin at Parliament House on Monday, where both men framed closer Judiciary–Legislature collaboration as a strategic priority for stronger governance.

Welcoming the Chief Justice, the Speaker described the meeting as an important step, arguing that tighter coordination among the arms of government is critical to deepen democratic practice and reinforce state capacity.

The Chief Justice said dedicated courts for galamsey-related offences and PAC-linked financial breaches would help to:

cut down delays and case backlog

streamline prosecutions and trial management

improve accountability outcomes in matters with high public interest, especially those with serious environmental and fiscal impact

Beyond specialist courts, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie also outlined additional reforms aimed at throughput and modernization, including:

a shift system for court operations to reduce congestion and improve turnaround times

updates to legal education to keep training aligned with emerging risks and technology-driven realities

To make the reform agenda executable, the Chief Justice called for practical enablers, including:

secure office accommodation for the Judiciary

improved security for judges and other judicial officers

faster clearance to recruit more staff and technical experts

Overall, the engagement signalled a joint intent to tighten institutional performance, accelerate justice delivery and strengthen protection of public resources.