Chief Justice Announces Expansion of Jury Selection in Ghana
Aimed at speeding up criminal trials and increasing citizen participation in the justice system
- Jury selection expanded to include all legally qualified citizens
- Reform aims to speed up criminal trials and reduce delays
- Part of broader efforts to make Ghana’s judiciary more efficient and transparent
In a major stride toward enhancing Ghana’s criminal justice system, Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo has declared that the jury selection process will now include all eligible citizens, marking a historic shift aimed at improving both the speed and transparency of criminal trials.
The announcement came during the official opening of the 2025 Criminal Assizes on Tuesday, April 16, by the Judicial Service. This inclusive approach to jury selection is seen as a pivotal reform to address persistent delays in criminal case adjudication.
“As we open assizes today, we have broadened the jury list to incorporate all legally qualified citizens, including many from the private sector,” Chief Justice Torkornoo stated. “In time, we will continue to expand the jury pool, with the goal of increasing citizen participation and reducing delays caused by limited jury availability.”
This reform forms part of a larger agenda to make Ghana’s judicial system more efficient and results-driven. The Chief Justice highlighted the role of a dedicated team that developed the reforms and carried out extensive engagement campaigns across the country to ensure stakeholder support.
Judges have also been instructed to strictly enforce the provisions of Sections 222 to 224 of the Criminal Procedure and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 30), which sanction jurors who miss court sessions without valid reasons. Absences will count as non-working days and impact allowance eligibility. To ensure better attendance, jury foremen are expected to communicate court schedules promptly to all jurors.
Calling on all stakeholders, Chief Justice Torkornoo emphasized the importance of unity and collaboration in achieving meaningful reform. “I ask that all partners in the justice sector support the judiciary in strengthening legality, ethics, due process, and the effective use of resources.”
Looking back on the past year, she expressed appreciation to her colleagues and partners across the judicial sector for their continued dedication. “I am deeply grateful for the progress we’ve made together—with the help of fellow judges, stakeholders, and the grace of God,” she said.
This newly expanded jury system is poised to boost public trust, encourage citizen involvement, and promote faster resolution of criminal cases throughout Ghana.
