The Chief Justice of Ghana, Her Ladyship Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has disclosed that Ghana’s jury selection process will now include all eligible citizens.
The expansion she explained forms part of efforts to improve the speed and quality of criminal justice delivery.
She revealed this during the official opening of the 2025 session of the Criminal Assizes by the Judicial Service on Tuesday, April 16, 2025.
Her Ladyship Sackey Torkornoo said that the move would also help in addressing delays in the adjudication of criminal cases across the country.
“As we open assizes today, we have expanded the jury list to include all citizens qualified by law, including many individuals in the private sector,” Chief Justice Torkornoo stated.
“Over time, steps will be taken to further the pool from which juries will be selected. It is our expectation that the time citizens engage in jury meeting, not being insufficient will change.”
To the team that supported her efforts, she said, “A team assisted me in proposing solutions and reforms in making the judiciary system more efficient and result-orientated. To get the buy-in of all stakeholders, the team went on to do media and stakeholder engagement on national and regional platforms.
She further advised judges to strictly enforce Sections 222 to 224 of the Criminal Procedure and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 30), which outline penalties for jurors who fail to attend court without valid justification.
Chief Justice Torkornoo added that any absence by an empanelled juror would be considered a day of no work, affecting the eligibility for allowances.
“In this regard, foremen are respectfully requested to notify all jurors on a panel regarding attendance, well ahead of the court’s sitting.”
“I pray stakeholders to hold the hand of the judiciary to effect reforms that will enhance legality, ethics, due process, assets and resources in the justice delivery of the judiciary,” she said.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
