Supreme Court judge nominee Justice Senyo Dzamefe has expressed support for the current constitutional arrangement that allows for an uncapped number of judges at the apex court.
During his vetting on Monday, he argued that increasing the number of judges would speed up decisions on land, chieftaincy, and constitutional matters.
He said the framers of the Constitution know why they haven’t put a limit on the number of Supreme Court judges, adding, “So far as the Constitution doesn’t cap the number of judges, I am for it.”
According to him, the existing number of judges—estimated at 13 before the addition of the current seven nominees—are overburdened with heavy caseloads, affecting their capacity to effectively write opinions and hold conferences.
He noted that “Our Supreme Court is overburdened with more than 400 cases each year, unlike the United States, where state courts help reduce the load.”
He further supported a proposal to extend Supreme Court sittings to Tamale in the northern part of Ghana to help lessen the burden on litigants traveling to Accra.
The nominee stated that it would reduce travel costs for litigants in northern Ghana and make justice more accessible in towns such as Bawku and Bolgatanga.
In 2024, suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo proposed in a letter to then-President Akufo-Addo an increase in the number of judges on the bench to 20.
Justice Torkornoo cited that 12 judges handled 344 cases during the 2022/2023 legal year, leaving 1,648 cases pending.