Unnecessary appeals delaying justice – Sophia Akuffo calls for tighter Supreme Court limits

Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has advocated for stricter limits on the cases that can proceed to Ghana's Supreme Court, citing the issue of unnecessary interlocutory appeals as a contributing factor to delays in the country's justice system. According to Akuffo, some matters are being brought to the apex court on issues arising during proceedings, even when the primary cases have not been decided by the High Court.

This practice, she claims, increases the Supreme Court's workload and prolongs the resolution of cases. During an interview on Channel One TV on September 2, 2026, Akuffo explained that these interlocutory appeals, which are deemed unnecessary, can remain before the Supreme Court for extended periods, thereby delaying the conclusion of substantive cases.

She urged for more cases to be resolved at the Court of Appeal, particularly those lacking new legal questions or significant constitutional implications, suggesting that such matters should conclude at a lower court level.