Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has responded to recent criticisms from Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, asserting that the delays in illegal mining (galamsey) cases are largely the result of prosecutors' actions, not the judiciary.

This follows Mr. Dame's call for judges to expedite rulings on galamsey cases within a month to curb the environmental damage caused by illegal mining.

Addressing the matter on Wednesday, 2 October 2024, the Attorney General urged Chief Justice Torkornoo to instruct judges handling these cases to deliver swift verdicts, emphasising that rapid judgments would help mitigate the devastating effects of unregulated mining on Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves.

At the Annual Conference of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana, Mr. Dame expressed concern that the slow pace of prosecuting galamsey cases is exacerbating environmental degradation across the country.

He stressed that urgent judicial action is necessary to protect the nation's forests and water resources from further harm.

In her response, Chief Justice Torkornoo noted the primary cause of delays in galamsey cases is the work of prosecutors, not the courts.

“On the issue of delays in galamsey cases, the AG will acknowledge that engagements have shown that the delays often come from the work of prosecutors,” she said.