Judicial funding and operational reforms needed to speed up justice delivery – Yaw Nsarkoh

Former Unilever executive Yaw Nsarkoh has advocated for enhanced funding and a thorough examination of Ghana’s judicial system to expedite justice delivery. Nsarkoh argued that merely increasing the number of judges would not tackle the issues plaguing the courts. During a JoyNews and An Amalgam of Professionals event on October 20, he emphasized the need to assess case progression, pinpoint delay causes, and employ technology and more strategic planning to enhance efficiency.

Nsarkoh highlighted Ghana's constrained capacity to finance development, pointing out the economy's insufficient size to address the needs of a 34 million-strong population. He called for the participation of seasoned planners and operations managers to scrutinize the entire judicial process, aiming to optimize services for citizens.

He proposed that professional entities, such as the Ghana Institution of Engineering and organizations representing project managers and planners, could aid in the review. Nsarkoh questioned whether the multitude of land disputes overwhelming the judicial system should lead to broader land administration reforms rather than focusing solely on adding more judges.

He pointed to other persistent disputes, including funeral and chieftaincy issues, as societal challenges that require root-level solutions rather than solely depending on an under-resourced court system. Nsarkoh stressed the importance of technology in judicial operations, asserting that effective use of tools could boost institutional capacity.

He reiterated that without sufficient funding, systematic problem-solving, and enhanced operational management, reform calls would remain merely aspirational.