Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has called for restrictions on unnecessary appeals to the Supreme Court, warning that interlocutory appeals are contributing to delays in the delivery of justice.
Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV, she said some cases are taken to the apex court through interlocutory appeals even though the substantive matters remain pending before the High Court.
“Sometimes there are also some matters that come to the Supreme Court only on what is called interlocutory appeal, which is so unnecessary and shouldn’t have come to the Supreme Court because the case itself might still be in the High Court,” she said.
According to the former Chief Justice, such appeals can remain before the Supreme Court for several years, further delaying the determination of the main cases.
She therefore advocated for more cases to be concluded at the Court of Appeal, particularly where they do not raise significant constitutional questions or novel legal issues.
“A lot of other matters should end in the Court of Appeals if they don’t raise new issues or very sensitive constitutional issues,” she said.
Sophia Akuffo’s comments come amid ongoing concerns over delays in Ghana’s justice system.
The former Chief Justice stressed the need to streamline the appeals process and ensure that cases are resolved more efficiently to improve access to justice.
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