Sophia Akuffo calls for overhaul of judicial appointment process

Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has expressed serious concern over the lack of transparency in Ghana’s judicial appointment process, warning that public trust in the justice system is at risk without major reforms.

In an interview on November 5, Justice Akuffo said Ghana needs to “reconceive the judiciary” by reforming how judges are appointed, disciplined, and removed.

“I have long held a strong view about how judicial appointments are made, because the current process leaves much to be desired,” she said.

According to her, the existing system encourages public speculation about political influence and favouritism, undermining confidence in the judiciary.

“There is not much transparency in the process, and it’s important for that to happen, because otherwise, it leads to all kinds of speculation, that someone got appointed because of this or that, since people may not know the reality of the qualifications and merits of the appointment,” she added.

Justice Akuffo proposed that Ghana should consider a more independent model for judicial appointments, one managed by a credible, non-political body composed of professional and social representatives chosen for their integrity and expertise.

She also cautioned against calls to limit the number of Supreme Court justices, saying the court’s workload is too heavy to justify such a move.

“You can only begin to talk about limiting the number of Supreme Court justices if you also look at the scope and magnitude of the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

“For as long as everyone has a right of access, and cases of all kinds keep coming, how can you limit the number of judges?” she asked in an interview on Channel One TV.

Justice Akuffo compared Ghana’s system to that of the United States, where the Supreme Court selects which cases to hear, noting that Ghana’s “come one, come all” approach has created inefficiency and strain at the apex court.

She stressed that the future of the judiciary depends on greater transparency, independence, and accountability, urging policymakers to pursue reforms that will restore public confidence in the nation’s justice system.