“Let the Judiciary Retain 70% of Its Own Funds” – Justice Mensah Urges
Supreme Court nominee calls for greater financial autonomy to improve judicial efficiency
- Justice Mensah recommends that the judiciary retain 50–70% of its Internally Generated Funds (IGF)
- He argues this would enhance operational efficiency and reduce reliance on central government funding
- He acknowledges legal constraints but calls for reforms to promote financial autonomy for the judiciary
Supreme Court nominee Justice Philip Bright Mensah has recommended that Ghana’s judiciary be permitted to retain between 50% to 70% of its Internally Generated Funds (IGF) to improve its operational capacity and reduce dependence on central government funding.
During his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Justice Mensah underscored the importance of financial independence for the judiciary.
He acknowledged that, under current laws, all IGF must be directed to the consolidated fund, which serves as the main source of government financing for public institutions, including the judiciary.
“The revenue we generate is legally required to go into the consolidated fund,” he noted. “That’s how the government finances institutions such as the judiciary.”
Nonetheless, Justice Mensah suggested that allowing the judiciary to retain a considerable share of its own revenue could significantly enhance service delivery and institutional autonomy.
“I’m not advocating for the judiciary to keep 100% of the funds,” he clarified, “but retaining around 50% to 70% would be a practical and impactful step forward.”
