Dr Valentine Mensah, D&D fellow in public financial management and corporate governance, has warned that delays in funding and inadequate resources are undermining effective justice delivery in Ghana.
Speaking at a JoyNews and An Amalgam of Professionals event on Tuesday, October 20, he said the judiciary needed dependable financial support, adequate staffing, equipment and essential facilities to function effectively, stressing that accountability must be accompanied by the resources required for judges and court staff to perform their duties.
“ We are paying people to work, but are we giving them the tools?” he asked, highlighting the imbalance between spending on personnel and investment in the operational needs of the courts.
Dr Mensah cited figures indicating that Parliament approved GH¢945 million for the judiciary in 2024, but only GH¢700 million was released. Of the amount spent, compensation accounted for 79 per cent, leaving 21 per cent for goods, services and capital expenditure.
“Delayed funding means delayed justice,” he said, arguing that government’s fiscal constraints, although understandable, should not result in prolonged delays in providing essential support to the courts.
He said the situation persisted in 2025, when audited expenditure exceeded GH¢1.6 billion, with compensation absorbing 87 per cent and leaving only 13 per cent for other operational needs.
According to him, the figures raise concerns about whether the judiciary has sufficient resources to provide the facilities and equipment needed for timely justice delivery.
Dr Mensah cited the judicial complex, which he said had remained unfinished for more than a decade, as an example of how incomplete planning and funding delays could leave critical infrastructure unavailable.
He also pointed to the Judicial Service’s internally generated funds of GH¢151 million in 2025, which he said represented about 15 per cent of its budget. He called for sustainable funding arrangements, including efficient fee collection and regular reviews of court fees, while protecting people who cannot afford to pay.
On staffing, Dr Mensah referred to reports by the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) that more than 130 courts were operating without magistrates. He said better conditions of service, improved security and timely recruitment are necessary to attract and retain qualified personnel.
He further cited the Chief Justice’s report that 127 candidates had been interviewed but were awaiting clearance, leaving serving officers to cover multiple courts.
Dr Mensah urged authorities to improve staffing plans, establish deadlines for recruitment clearances and provide explanations when appointments were delayed or refused.
He also stressed that judicial independence required more than constitutional guarantees, arguing that judges needed adequate material support and security of tenure to make decisions without fear of political retaliation.
While accountability remained essential, he said “procedures for removing judges must guarantee fair hearings, impartial adjudication and protection against political interference”.
Articles 125 and 127 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution establish the judiciary’s authority and protect its independence, reinforcing the need for institutional arrangements that enable the courts to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
Dr Mensah said the judiciary’s challenges reflected wider problems in Ghana’s public sector, where the payment of salaries did not always translate into the provision of the tools and facilities needed to deliver public services.
He called for all three arms of government to fulfil their constitutional responsibilities, noting that the Executive implements laws and policies, Parliament legislates and holds the government accountable, while the Judiciary interprets the law, protects rights and checks the exercise of public power.
He said effective justice delivery was essential to protecting citizens against arbitrary power, enforcing contracts and creating an environment that supports investment and national development.