Supreme Court nominee Justice Senyo Dzamefe has expressed strong support for maintaining an uncapped number of judges at Ghana’s apex court, aligning his stance with arguments frequently made by the Chief Justice regarding judicial efficiency and Ghana’s unique legal system.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on
Monday, June 16, 2025, Justice Dzamefe stressed that the constitutional framers deliberately left the number of Supreme Court judges unrestricted, a decision he believes should remain in place.
“The framers of our law, the constitution, know why they haven’t put a limit on the number of Supreme Court judges; it’s not capped. So far as the constitution doesn’t cap the number of judges, I am for it.”
Justice Dzamefe supported two key arguments made by the Chief Justice in favor of an expanded bench:
1. Reducing delays in the administration of justice.
He acknowledged that the current complement of judges, estimated at 13 before the latest nominations, are overburdened with heavy caseloads, affecting their ability to write opinions and hold conferences efficiently.
2. A flawed comparison with the U.S. Supreme Court.
He dismissed comparisons between Ghana’s Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court, stating that the U.S. system includes 50 state Supreme Courts plus one federal Supreme Court, unlike Ghana’s single court structure.
“You can’t compare the Ghana situation, where we have one Supreme Court, versus the U.S. that has 50 Supreme Courts at the state joining the federal Supreme Court”.
Justice Dzamefe also addressed concerns about access to justice, particularly for litigants from remote areas such as Bawku.
Responding to a question from Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, he expressed openness to the idea of establishing branches of the Supreme Court.
“We have only one Supreme Court in Ghana, and that court can have several branches, but it’s the same Supreme Court, just as the Court of Appeal and the High Courts. So I don’t see anything wrong if there’s a branch there.”
