Legal vacation does not halt urgent court cases – Chief Justice

Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has clarified that the judiciary's legal vacation, running from August 1 to September 30, does not halt court proceedings. Urgent cases, such as injunction applications and applications for the release of bodies, will still be heard. The Chief Justice made this clarification during a courtesy visit to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) in Accra.

The legal vacation is intended to provide a break for judges, lawyers, and judicial staff, though designated vacation courts continue to sit on urgent matters. Concerns about the legal vacation have been overstated, according to the Chief Justice, as designated vacation judges remain available to handle emergency processes from courts whose judges are on leave.

Judges designated as vacation judges continue their own cases and return to leave when other judges do. Lawyers with cases scheduled during the legal vacation can request adjournments from the courts, as they would during the regular legal term. The judiciary is reviewing its rules to address procedural technicalities that contribute to case delays.

The Chief Justice also mentioned that judges have been exposed to illegal mining's effects and conditions in prisons to better understand issues in court cases. Specialized courts have been established to handle specific categories of cases and improve the speed of justice delivery. MIIF has shown effective management of resources, generating significant returns for the country.

Royalty collections for MIIF increased by 5.4% in 2025 compared to 2024, and the Fund projected royalty collections of about GH¢9 billion for 2026. MIIF's Board Chairman welcomed the establishment of specialized courts to address illegal mining cases and emphasized the Fund's commitment to transparency, accountability, integrity, and professionalism.