Odotobri MP Lawyer Anthony Mmieh stresses Judicial financial Independence during vetting of supreme court nominee
During the recent vetting of a nominated Supreme Court Justice, the Member of Parliament for Odotobri Constituency, Lawyer Anthony Mmieh, who also serves as the Vice Chair of Parliament’s Judiciary Committee, made a strong case for the financial independence of Ghana’s judiciary.
In his remarks during the public session, Lawyer Mmieh emphasized that the Judiciary must not only be independent in law and operations, but also in its finances, warning that the lack of financial autonomy can subtly undermine the impartiality and effectiveness of the justice system.
Lawyer Mmieh noted that although Parliament has consistently approved the judiciary’s annual budget, the actual release of funds is often delayed or insufficient, creating operational bottlenecks and slowing down justice delivery.
His comments came during questioning of a nominee to Ghana’s highest court, as the committee examined the broader conditions under which judges are expected to perform their constitutional duties.
Hon Mmieh’s comments align with long-standing calls from legal experts, civil society, and international observers who have frequently urged Ghana to strengthen the institutional and financial independence of its judiciary. This, they argue, is a cornerstone of good governance, rule of law, and public confidence in the justice syste
The vetting process concluded with broad praise for the nominee, but Lawyer Mmieh’s remarks have reignited discussion within legal and political circles about the urgent need for structural reforms in judicial funding.
As the Judiciary Committee continues to scrutinize nominees and policies that affect the administration of justice, many are watching closely to see whether the calls for financial independence will move from conversation to concrete legislation.
