Chief Justice directs registrars to prevent jurors from serving in multiple courts as criminal assizes begin

Chief Justice of Ghana, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, has issued a directive. Court registrars must not assign any juror to more than one court. This rule applies during the 2025 criminal assizes, which began today.

At the opening of the session in Accra, she emphasized existing administrative directions. These are for presiding judges and registrars of high courts. They aim to assist in speedy and effective trials.

The Chief Justice insisted that no juror should be on more than one court list. This will prevent jurors from being involved in multiple cases at once. She also directed that trials should occur daily and conclude quickly.

This approach ensures swift case disposal before new trials start. Judges must follow the Effective Case Completion Planning Strategies from 2019. They should also adhere to the Practice Direction on Jury Trials effective since May 2024.

These directives support major reforms to Ghana’s jury system. The Chief Justice announced these changes at the Law Complex in Accra. The pool of eligible jurors now includes private sector citizens, moving away from public sector reliance.

The reform aims for greater fairness, transparency, and efficiency in the justice system. Other reforms starting with the 2025 criminal assizes include:

- Continuous daily hearings for each case.
- Full disclosures by prosecution before jury selection.
- Use of assessors for certain cases to lessen jury burden.
- Strict attendance enforcement for jurors and accused persons.
- Better coordination with police and prison officers for timely appearances.
- Orders to compel witness attendance when necessary.