Instead of increasing the number of judges to handle judiciary’s caseloads, the Executive Director of the Center for Democratic Governance-Ghana, Prof. Kwasi Prempeh, is proposing that government should consider effective ways to manage existing cases.
During an enganement with the media, Prof. Prempeh underlined the importance of understanding the root causes contributing to high caseloads.
He pointed out that providing the court with sufficient resources, such as technological advancements, administrative support, and research assistance, is essential for efficient caseload management.
“The resources available to the court matter a lot; technology, administrative support, and research support. In many jurisdictions, there are law clerks. Each Supreme Court judge in the US has six law clerks from top law schools.
“So how the court itself organises its business, the administrative support, the research support, all of these things are important,” he said.
Prof Prempeh further suggested that the organisation of the court’s business, supported by robust administrative and research infrastructure, is pivotal in handling cases more effectively.
“Even the clarity of the court judgment is important,” he remarked.
“Often, when there is clear-cut case law or doctrine, clients are advised against pursuing cases that are deemed futile, thereby reducing the number of cases that reach the courts.”