100+ District Courts Without Magistrates
More than 100 District Courts across Ghana are reportedly without magistrates, with some communities allegedly going for more than eight months without regular court sittings.
A judge, who spoke to Swiftnews3 on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, disclosed that the situation is affecting courts across all 16 regions.
According to the judge, the absence of magistrates is contributing to delays in the hearing and determination of cases, leaving litigants, accused persons, victims and witnesses waiting for justice.
The judge said the situation was particularly worrying in communities where residents have limited access to alternative courts.
134 APPLICANTS SHORTLISTED
The judge disclosed that 134 applicants have been shortlisted for appointment as magistrates to help address the shortage.
According to the source, the Chief Justice submitted the list to the President for approval in June 2026.
However, the approval process is reportedly yet to be completed.
The delay means that several District Courts remain without magistrates, while communities continue to wait for regular court sittings.
The judge said the reason for the delay was not immediately known, but stressed the need for urgent action to address the situation.
EIGHT MONTHS WITHOUT SITTINGS
The source revealed that some affected communities have reportedly gone for more than eight months without regular court sittings.
The situation is said to be affecting both criminal and civil cases.
Accused persons awaiting trial, victims seeking justice, witnesses required to testify and litigants involved in civil disputes are among those potentially affected by the delays.
Although court registries and other administrative structures may remain operational, the absence of a magistrate means substantive judicial proceedings cannot proceed as expected.
FINANCIAL BURDEN
The reported shortage is also creating additional challenges for litigants who may have to travel to other jurisdictions to pursue their cases.
For some residents, such journeys could mean additional transportation costs, loss of income and other expenses.
Witnesses may also face difficulties attending proceedings when cases are repeatedly adjourned or transferred because of the absence of a magistrate.
CALL FOR URGENT ACTION
The judge said the reported shortage required urgent attention to prevent further accumulation of cases and ensure that citizens have access to timely justice.
The source called for clarity on the status of the 134 shortlisted applicants and the timeline for their approval, appointment and deployment.
The judge emphasised that shortlisting the applicants alone would not resolve the problem, since they must be formally appointed and deployed before they can begin sitting.
With more than 100 District Courts reportedly affected, the situation has raised fresh concerns about access to justice and the need for urgent measures to restore regular sittings in the affected communities.
