Chief Justice proposes specialised courts to handle galamsey cases
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has advocated the creation of specialised courts to handle illegal mining cases, commonly referred to as galamsey, particularly those highlighted by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), as part of wider judicial reforms aimed at improving accountability and access to justice.
He made the proposal during a courtesy visit to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, at Parliament House on Monday, January 26.
In welcoming the Chief Justice, Speaker Bagbin described the visit as historic and underscored the need for strong cooperation between the Judiciary and the Legislature to deepen Ghana’s democratic governance and reinforce state institutions.
During the engagement, Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie outlined several reform priorities, chief among them the establishment of dedicated courts to expedite the adjudication of illegal mining cases and other violations frequently cited in Public Accounts Committee reports.
According to him, these specialised courts would help streamline proceedings, minimise delays, and strengthen the enforcement of accountability measures, especially in matters with serious environmental consequences.
In addition to the proposed courts, the Chief Justice called for broader access to justice through the adoption of a shift system in court operations to address case backlogs. He also advocated reforms in legal education to ensure training remains responsive to emerging challenges and technological advancements.
To facilitate these reforms, he appealed for tangible support, including secure office accommodation for the Judiciary, enhanced security for judicial officers, and faster approval processes to enable the recruitment of additional staff and technical professionals.
The meeting highlighted a shared resolve by both leaders to pursue institutional reforms and strengthen collaboration between arms of government, with a focus on improving justice delivery and protecting public resources.
Source: CNR
