The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has urged the Acting Chief Justice, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, to withdraw a recent directive that centralizes the assignment and scheduling of newly filed cases, and to reinstate the suspended electronic case allocation system.
In a statement referencing the directive dated April 23, 2025, the GBA emphasized the critical role technology plays in the delivery of justice and expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the new manual approach.
“Recognizing that the directive by His Lordship, the Acting Chief Justice on the assignment of cases by his office is uncertain and having regard to the importance of technology and the urgency of justice delivery, the Ghana Bar Association respectfully requests that this directive be withdrawn and the use of technology in the assignment of cases to the courts enhanced,” the statement said.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s directive requires registrars of the High Courts, Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court to forward all fresh filings—both cases and applications—to his office.
Under the order, the Acting Chief Justice would personally assign cases or empanel judges in jurisdictions with multiple courts. The directive also centralizes the fixing of hearing dates under his supervision, effectively overriding previous guidelines.
The GBA’s response underscores the legal fraternity’s preference for transparency, fairness, and efficiency in the judicial process—qualities they believe are best supported through the electronic case allocation system that was previously in place.
Read the GBA statement calling for a swift restoration and enhancement of the technology-driven system to ensure continued public trust in the judiciary below:
