By: Ama Gyamfuah
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has justified the appointment of extra judges to the country’s courts, citing the growing workload on the judiciary. Conversely, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has called for a limit on the number of judges. However, President Akufo-Addo stands by his support for Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s call for appointing more judges.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of 16 new Appeals Court judges at the Jubilee House, the President stressed that the creation of additional courts in the country requires appointing more judges.
“The significant expansion of the personnel of the Court of Appeal occasioned by the appointment of these 16 new justices of Appeal which is a direct response to the challenge of an overburdened court system.
“The Chief Justice has decided with the support of the judicial council to establish permanent panels of the Court of Appeals in five locations, Sekondi, Koforidua, Kumasi, Tamale and Accra,” the President said.