Ghana court backlog: Why nearly 30,000 cases remain unresolved
Ghana’s Superior Courts are carrying a backlog of almost 30,000 cases, with the High Court accounting for more than 80% of pending matters. Supreme Court Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi says the challenge requires reforms, more judges and greater use of technology, not a loss of confidence in the justice system.
Ghana’s courts are facing a growing backlog, with 29,498 cases currently pending before the country’s Superior Courts, Supreme Court Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi has disclosed.
The figures highlight the pressure facing the judiciary as judges manage thousands of unresolved disputes, appeals and constitutional matters across the country.
But Justice Kulendi says the situation should not be interpreted as a failure of Ghana’s justice system.
Instead, he described it as a complex challenge requiring sustained reforms, including improved case management, investment in technology and the appointment of more judges.
He made the remarks while speaking as a Distinguished Alumnus at a lecture organised by the University of Ghana School of Law.
High Court carries the biggest burden
Justice Kulendi said data from the current legal year showed that the Superior Courts received 4,347 new cases between October 2025 and March 2026.
During the same period, 4,305 cases were concluded.
The High Court remains the busiest part of Ghana’s judiciary, accounting for the largest share of unresolved cases.
It received 2,854 new cases and completed 2,860 cases, but still has 24,543 pending matters.
That represents more than 83% of the total backlog before the Superior Courts.
Justice Kulendi described the High Court as the “engine room of Ghana’s judicial system”, saying its ability to dispose of slightly more cases than it received suggests that recent improvements in case management and digital systems are beginning to help.
Appeals and Supreme Court cases
The Court of Appeal is also dealing with significant pressure.
Justice Kulendi said the court received 1,214 appeals during the period under review and concluded 1,195 cases, leaving 4,501 pending cases.
The Supreme Court received 279 new matters, completed 250, and currently has 454 cases awaiting determination.
According to Justice Kulendi, these figures show the scale of responsibility carried by Ghana’s 221 Superior Court judges.
They include 142 High Court judges, 61 Court of Appeal judges and 18 Supreme Court justices
Calls for more judges and court reforms
Justice Kulendi called for increased investment in Ghana’s justice delivery system to address the growing workload.
He urged authorities to consider appointing more judges, strengthening case management systems; and expanding the use of technology in court processes.
He said these measures would help improve efficiency and reduce delays in the administration of justice.
A journey from Wa to Ghana’s Supreme Court
Beyond the statistics, Justice Kulendi used his address to reflect on his own journey into the legal profession.
He described returning to the University of Ghana School of Law as a “singular privilege”, recalling how his years as a student shaped his values and approach to the law.
He shared his personal story of growing up in Ghana’s Upper West Region and rising through the legal profession to become the first Supreme Court Justice from the region.
Justice Kulendi encouraged law students to build careers founded on hard work, integrity, focus and intellectual honesty.
He told them that although the justice system they will inherit is not perfect, each generation has a duty to improve it rather than become discouraged by its challenges.
Justice Kulendi shared the platform with fellow Supreme Court Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei during the University of Ghana School of Law’s Conversations and Cocktail series.