Supreme Court nominee Justice Philip Bright Mensah has called for the appointment of at least 20 justices to the apex court, pointing to the rising number and complexity of cases as justification for strengthening the bench.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, June 17, Justice Mensah was asked about the ideal number of justices needed to manage the Court’s workload effectively. In response, he emphasised that the Supreme Court’s broad jurisdiction and growing caseload demand a significant increase in judicial personnel.
“There’s clearly an increase in the number of cases, and many of them are quite complex and costly,” he noted. “It’s only fair and reasonable that additional judges are appointed to handle the volume.”
He argued that the current number of justices is insufficient to deliver timely and effective justice, particularly given the Court’s responsibilities in both constitutional and appellate matters.
“If you ask for a minimum recommendation, I would suggest appointing 20 judges to the Supreme Court,” he said. “In my view, that number would be appropriate considering the nature and volume of cases the Court is dealing with.”
Justice Mensah’s proposal comes amid broader discussions on judicial reform and efforts to improve the efficiency of Ghana’s justice system.
