…Supreme Court Justice Reveals
By Philip Antoh
A Supreme Court Judge, Justice Richard Adjei-Frimpong, has debunked the widespread perception that judges deliberately prolong court cases. Instead, he has attributed the persistent delays in Ghana’s justice delivery system to a severe shortage of court facilities, inadequate personnel, and cumbersome legal procedures.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Justice Adjei-Frimpong explained that the sheer volume of cases filed daily far exceeds the capacity of the country’s existing judicial infrastructure.
“The cases are many, but the courts are few,” he observed, noting that this imbalance inevitably leads to backlog. He argued that the most practical solution to clearing the backlog is a massive expansion of the judiciary.
“When the courts are not many, the issues become many, which could lead to delays. If you have more courts and more judges, the cases will be dealt with, and that will reduce delays,” he stated.
The Supreme Court Judge strongly pushed back against suggestions that judicial officers intentionally stall proceedings.
“It is never a deliberate attempt by anyone to delay a case. It is not the judges’ fault. We don’t even like it when cases delay,” he emphasized, reiterating that the bottlenecks are systemic rather than intentional.
Justice Adjei-Frimpong further noted that certain categories of cases naturally require extended periods due to the sensitive nature of the issues involved. Citing divorce proceedings as an example, he explained that a court cannot simply nullify a marriage without taking the time to thoroughly establish that the relationship has broken down beyond reconciliation.
Interestingly, he pointed out that in some litigations, a degree of delay is actually beneficial. “There are some litigations where delay is inherently good,” he noted, explaining that taking the time ensures that all parties receive a fair hearing and that justice is accurately served.
Rounding off his submission, the judge highlighted administrative bureaucracy as another major culprit. The preparation, processing, and filing of court documents frequently slow down the pace of litigation.
“Some too are delayed because of the paperwork. So it is not deliberate; there are several factors,” he concluded.