ACCRA – Justice Philip Bright Mensah, a nominee for the Supreme Court, has advocated for a concerted effort to significantly strengthen Ghana’s Court of Appeal. Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, Justice Mensah asserted that many cases currently reaching the Supreme Court could be resolved at the Court of Appeal if its existing structures were modernized and equipped with necessary tools. He drew a comparison to the United Kingdom, where fewer cases proceed to their Supreme Court due to the efficacy of their appellate system.
Justice Mensah also addressed the proposed increase in the retirement age for judges from 70 to 75, stating he would be “the last person to support such a change,” citing the demanding nature of judicial work. He further opined that the Prerogative of Mercy should remain solely with the Presidency and not be delegated to the Supreme Court for advice. Regarding judicial reforms, he underscored the importance of continuous capacity building for both judges and registrars, warning that inadequately trained registrars could inadvertently mislead judges and impede justice delivery. He also suggested establishing time limits for trials in certain Supreme Court cases to expedite proceedings.
On the issue of financial challenges within the Judicial Service, Justice Mensah proposed increasing the Judicial Service’s share of internally generated funds (IGF) from the current 30% to 50%, instead of the 70% currently allocated to the consolidated fund, to better meet the judiciary’s needs. Addressing illegal mining, known as ‘galamsey,’ he contended that existing laws in the Minerals and Mining Act 703 are sufficient, and the primary need is robust implementation. To overcome language barriers with foreign nationals involved in illegal mining, he suggested training some judges in the Chinese language to speed up trials. The nominee also responded to questions on bail, dual citizenship, legal education, and his personal life.
Sankofaonline
