Justice Kulendi highlights judiciary’s caseload, urges law students to lead reform
Ghana’s Superior Courts are carrying a backlog of almost 30,000 unresolved cases, a challenge Supreme Court Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi says requires more judges, improved technology and stronger case management systems to address.
Speaking at an event hosted by the University of Ghana School of Law, Justice Kulendi said 29,498 cases are currently pending before the country’s Superior Courts despite recent gains in case disposal rates.
Figures he presented showed the High Court remains under the greatest pressure, accounting for more than 24,000 unresolved cases. The Court of Appeal is handling 4,501 pending matters, while 454 cases are awaiting determination at the Supreme Court.
Justice Kulendi noted that the judiciary’s workload is being managed by 221 judges across the Superior Courts, a situation he said highlights the need for continued investment in the justice sector.
While acknowledging concerns about delays in the legal system, he argued that the figures should be viewed in the context of growing demand for judicial services rather than as evidence of institutional collapse. He pointed to recent performance data showing courts are increasingly matching the number of cases filed with those concluded.
Addressing law students during the lecture, the Supreme Court judge urged future lawyers to see reform as part of their professional responsibility. Drawing on his own rise from the Upper West Region to the country’s highest court, he encouraged students to approach the profession with resilience, integrity and a commitment to public service.
The lecture formed part of the University of Ghana School of Law’s “Conversations and Cocktail” series and featured fellow Supreme Court Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei.
Source: myjoyonline.com
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