Reintroducing Ghana’s Tribunal System: A Case for Accessible Justice, Judicial Efficiency and Public Trust.

World Bank data shows that improving judicial efficiency from the 75th to 50th percentile globally boosts annual GDP growth by 0.28 percentage points. Ghana’s judicial system stands at a pivotal moment as rising inefficiencies, delays, and dwindling public trust call for urgent and innovative reforms. As of the 2022/2023 legal year, the Supreme Court faced a backlog of 595 pending cases, marking a 44% increase from the previous year. Only 344 out of 939 cases were concluded—yielding a clearance rate of just 37% (Graphic Online). These delays, often stretching three to five years, have deepened public disillusionment with the judiciary. Recent Afrobarometer data highlights that only 22% of Ghanaians express a lot of trust in the courts, while 57% distrust them completely or to a large extent (Cambridge University Press).

Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has reignited a crucial debate: the reintroduction of public tribunals and the activation of regional tribunals under the 1992 Constitution. This proposal, rooted in constitutional provisions and historical precedent, seeks to address systemic inefficiencies in Ghana’s justice system while enhancing public participation in judicial processes. Drawing authority from Articles 125 and 142 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. These tribunals aim to reduce case congestion, decentralize access to justice, and focus on specialized matters such as petty offenses, land disputes, and corruption. While Ghana has past experience with public tribunals under the PNDC era—often criticized for politicization—today's proposal is rooted in professionalization, transparency, and regional piloting.

Globally, similar tribunal systems have demonstrated remarkable success. Rwanda’s Gacaca Courts processed nearly 1.9 million genocide-related cases between 2005 and 2012, achieving community-driven justice with an estimated 86% conviction rate. In Kenya, the Environment and Land Court has shown strong resolution performance, with over 5,000 cases resolved in a six-month span in 2024 (Kenya Judiciary, 2024). South Africa’s Land Court Act of 2023 aims to streamline land-related disputes, although official performance data is still emerging. Meanwhile, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) handles over 1,500 cases annually, supported by a two-tier structure and efficient case management practices.

To ensure Ghana’s tribunal revival avoids the inefficiencies and political perceptions of the past, three critical pillars must guide implementation:

1. Professionalization – Tribunals should be presided over by trained legal professionals, not laypersons, to ensure consistency, fairness, and legal soundness.
2. Transparency & Accountability – Tribunals must publish annual performance metrics including clearance rates, appeal outcomes, and public access to decisions.
3. Phased Regional Pilots – High-need areas such as Sekondi-Takoradi should serve as pilots to test and refine tribunal structures before nationwide rollout.

This approach would help reduce the justice gap in underserved regions and address lengthy delays undermining the court system.

Comparative Justice System Performance:

As the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC)—chaired by Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh—prepares its 2025 recommendations, the tribunal proposal aligns with broader efforts to decentralize governance and meet SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). By drawing on global best practices—Rwanda’s community-led participation, the EU’s institutional specialization, and South Africa’s targeted accountability mechanisms—Ghana can build a tribunal system that is not only efficient but also fair, inclusive, and respected.

Reforming the justice system is not merely a legal necessity—it is a democratic imperative. With thoughtful design, bipartisan support, and transparent execution, Ghana’s tribunal revival can become a continental model for justice innovation and institutional trust-building.