President John Dramani Mahama has raised concerns about persistent delays and the high cost of accessing justice, urging the newly sworn-in Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, to collaborate with the Judicial Council and the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to make justice more timely, accessible, and affordable.

Speaking at the Jubilee House during the swearing-in ceremony, President Mahama outlined key reforms needed to improve judicial efficiency. These included:

* Reducing case backlogs through innovative case management

* Expanding and modernising court infrastructure

* Deploying technology such as e-filing, virtual hearings, and digital recording

* Simplifying procedures for small claims, family cases, juvenile matters, and labour disputes

He reaffirmed government’s commitment to providing the necessary resources to support these reforms.

President Mahama also emphasised the judiciary’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard fundamental human rights. He urged the new Chief Justice to ensure that the courts remained a refuge for vulnerable groups, including the poor, children, and persons with disabilities.

He called for the strengthening of specialised courts to better address issues such as environmental protection, commercial litigation, family welfare, land disputes, and corruption.

The president also encouraged wider use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to complement the formal justice system.