3 months for criminal, 6 for civil cases; there should be time limits – Justice Dzamefe proposes

Supreme Court nominee Justice Senyo Dzamefe has proposed a sweeping set of reforms to overhaul Ghana’s judicial system, with a particular focus on expediting the delivery of justice through the imposition of strict timelines for court cases.

During his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, June 16, Justice Dzamefe responded to growing public dissatisfaction over excessive delays in court proceedings—some of which have dragged on for years—with a clear call to action.

“I also think we must set timelines for cases — so let's say, criminal cases three months, and civil for six months. There should be time limits; no criminal case should go beyond 3 months, no civil case should go beyond a certain period of time,” he suggested.

He stressed that the introduction of fixed durations for handling criminal and civil cases would restore trust in the judicial system, while ensuring fair and prompt access to justice for all Ghanaians.

Beyond case timelines, Justice Dzamefe emphasized the need to prioritize investment in human capital and infrastructure, arguing that reforms would fail without attention to the well-being and efficiency of the people who keep the justice system running.

“Anybody who wants to maximise productivity must first think of the human resource, because it’s a mistake a lot of people make. First, think of people who will give you the product,” he stated.

He further advocated for the construction of additional courts across the country to decongest current facilities and speed up the legal process.

“We need more courts so that the job will be spread thin, and it will go faster,” he noted, highlighting the strain on the judiciary due to an overwhelming caseload.

Justice Dzamefe also called for a technological revolution in court operations. He made a strong case for phasing out archaic manual procedures in favor of artificial intelligence tools, real-time transcription systems, voice recordings, and virtual hearings.

“We must go with technology. The time of long handwriting is long gone past,” he declared. “By the end of the day, once the court is done sitting, the records are ready. We also need to go virtual, so people can testify online. We must be abreast with time, otherwise we will be left out,” he added.

His proposals come at a time when many Ghanaians are calling for deep structural reform of the judicial system to enhance accountability, transparency, and speed in justice delivery.