'Our superior courts are sitting on close to 29,500 pending cases' — Justice Kulendi shares
Supreme Court Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi has revealed that Ghana's Superior Courts are currently burdened with nearly 29,500 pending cases, underscoring the growing pressure on the country's judicial system.
Justice Kulendi disclosed the figures while delivering a lecture as a Distinguished Alumnus at the University of Ghana School of Law.
Reflecting on his return to his alma mater, the Supreme Court judge described the occasion as "a singular privilege," recalling that before ascending to the bench, he was once a student who learned that success in the legal profession is built on hard work, discipline, integrity and intellectual honesty.
He also shared what he described as his "Wa boy" story, recounting his journey from the Upper West Region to Ghana's highest court. Justice Kulendi noted that his appointment made him the first Supreme Court Justice from the Upper West Region, urging law students to believe that perseverance and integrity can overcome even the greatest challenges.
He encouraged aspiring lawyers not to be discouraged by the imperfections of the legal system, stressing that every generation inherits challenges that must be confronted rather than accepted.
Presenting statistics for the current legal year, Justice Kulendi said the Superior Courts recorded 4,347 new cases between October 2025 and March 2026, while disposing of 4,305 during the same period.
According to him, the High Court continues to bear the greatest workload, receiving 2,854 new cases and concluding 2,860. Despite disposing of more cases than it received, the court still has 24,543 pending cases, representing more than 83 per cent of the total caseload across the Superior Courts.
He described the High Court as "the engine room of Ghana's judicial system," noting that the slight improvement in case disposal reflects the positive impact of enhanced case management systems and technology in reducing the backlog.
Justice Kulendi further disclosed that the Court of Appeal received 1,214 new appeals and disposed of 1,195, leaving 4,501 cases pending. The Supreme Court, he added, received 279 new cases, concluded 250 and currently has 454 pending matters.
He said the figures should not be viewed as evidence of institutional failure but rather as a reflection of the complexity of cases handled by the judiciary.
Justice Kulendi pointed out that only 221 judges currently serve across the Superior Courts—comprising 142 High Court judges, 61 Court of Appeal judges and 18 Supreme Court justices—collectively managing nearly 30,000 pending cases.
He called for the appointment of more judges, continued investment in judicial technology and stronger case management systems to improve efficiency and reduce delays in the administration of justice.
Justice Kulendi shared the platform with fellow Supreme Court Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei during the University of Ghana School of Law's "Conversations and Cocktail" lecture series.