Proposal for Judicial Reforms to Strengthen Fairness and Accountability
.The President of the United States Africa Command, Ghana (AFRICOM), Mr. Abednego Orstin Rawlings, has called on the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, to consider the implementation of two key reforms aimed at strengthening the fairness, transparency, and accountability of Ghana’s judicial system.
Your Excellency, Ghana’s judiciary continues to face considerable challenges in maintaining transparency, integrity, and public confidence in the administration of justice.
To help curb corruption and rebuild trust in our courts, I respectfully propose two essential reforms that your government may wish to consider:
1. Mandatory Pre-Trial Investigations for Civil Cases.
Before any civil case proceeds to hearing, a preliminary investigation or verification process should be conducted to confirm the authenticity of claims, documents, and evidence submitted.
This measure will ensure that only legitimate cases are admitted for hearing, thereby eliminating fabricated or frivolous suits.
It will also help prevent the manipulation of judicial officers, reduce delays, and promote fairness in adjudication.
Such a mechanism would further encourage out-of-court settlements, saving judicial time and resources.
2. Introduction of Live Video Recording of Court Proceedings
All civil cases should be recorded via live video to enhance transparency and accountability in court proceedings.
The presence of real-time video documentation will discourage bias, external interference, or manipulation of judicial processes.
Moreover, it will serve as a permanent and verifiable record, ensuring that both plaintiffs and defendants present truthful and consistent accounts of their cases.
This measure will also strengthen public confidence in the judiciary by making proceedings more accessible and transparent.
Your Excellency, these two proposed reforms — pre-trial investigations and live video documentation — will not only enhance justice delivery but also act as a self-correcting mechanism within the judiciary.
They will help reduce unnecessary litigation, promote arbitration and mediation, and restore public trust in the legal system.
Furthermore, implementing pre-trial investigations will create new employment opportunities by engaging more investigators, legal researchers, and mediators to support the judicial process.
Your Excellency, this proposal draws from my personal observations and practical experience with the current judicial system, which, in its present form, allows certain injustices to persist.
I firmly believe that these reforms will help “reset” Ghana’s judiciary, aligning it with your administration’s Resetting Ghana Agenda for transparency, fairness, and accountability.
In God we trust. Amen.
