Supreme Court Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi has revealed that Ghana’s Superior Courts are currently handling nearly 30,000 pending cases, highlighting the mounting pressure on the judiciary while calling for more judges, improved case management and greater investment in court technology.
Delivering a lecture as a Distinguished Alumnus at the University of Ghana School of Law, Justice Kulendi disclosed that the Superior Courts have 29,498 pending cases, describing the situation as a challenge that requires sustained reforms rather than evidence of institutional failure.
Reflecting on his journey, Justice Kulendi described returning to his alma mater as “a singular privilege,” recalling how his years as a law student shaped the values of hard work, integrity, focus and intellectual honesty that have guided his legal career.
He also recounted his rise from Ghana’s Upper West Region to the country’s highest court, describing it as his “Wa boy” story. Justice Kulendi noted that his appointment made him the first Supreme Court Justice from the Upper West Region and urged students to approach the legal profession with resilience and integrity.
He encouraged aspiring lawyers not to be discouraged by the imperfections of the justice system, stressing that every generation has a responsibility to strengthen the institutions it inherits.
Providing an overview of the judiciary’s current workload, Justice Kulendi said the Superior Courts received 4,347 new cases between October 2025 and March 2026 and disposed of 4,305 cases during the same period.
According to him, the High Court continues to shoulder the heaviest caseload, receiving 2,854 new cases and concluding 2,860. Despite disposing of more cases than it received, the court still has 24,543 pending cases, accounting for more than 83 per cent of all matters before the Superior Courts.
Justice Kulendi described the High Court as “the engine room of Ghana’s judicial system,” noting that recent improvements in case management and the adoption of technology are beginning to reduce the backlog rather than merely contain it.
He further disclosed that the Court of Appeal received 1,214 appeals, concluded 1,195 and currently has 4,501 pending cases. The Supreme Court, he added, received 279 new matters, disposed of 250 and has 454 pending cases awaiting determination.
While acknowledging the significant backlog, Justice Kulendi maintained that the figures reflect the complexity of Ghana’s justice system rather than institutional failure.
He pointed out that the country’s 221 Superior Court judges—comprising 142 High Court judges, 61 Court of Appeal judges and 18 Supreme Court justices—are collectively responsible for handling nearly 30,000 pending cases.
Justice Kulendi therefore called for the appointment of additional judges, stronger case management systems and sustained investment in digital technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of justice delivery across the country.
The lecture formed part of the University of Ghana School of Law’s “Conversations and Cocktail” series, where Justice Kulendi shared the platform with fellow Supreme Court Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei.
