Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has advocated for stricter restrictions on appeals submitted to Ghana’s Supreme Court, contending that unwarranted interlocutory appeals can hinder the timely resolution of cases in the lower courts.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, Akuffo stated that certain issues make their way to the country’s highest court even while the primary dispute remains unresolved in the High Court.
Her concern is particularly focused on interlocutory appeals, which deal with decisions or issues arising during an ongoing case rather than the final determination of the dispute.
Akuffo said such appeals can prolong litigation because the substantive case may have to wait while an issue arising from the proceedings moves through the appellate process.
“There are instances where certain issues reach the Supreme Court through what is known as interlocutory appeal. This process can often be deemed unnecessary, as the case may still be pending in the High Court,” she stated.
She contended that not every case that escalates to the Court of Appeal is required to advance to the Supreme Court. In her opinion, issues that do not introduce new legal questions or substantial constitutional concerns could typically conclude at the Court of Appeal.
“Many other cases should conclude in the Court of Appeals unless they introduce new concerns or particularly sensitive constitutional matters,” she stated.
The former Chief Justice did not suggest that appeals should be eliminated. Rather, her comments point to a more selective approach to cases that are allowed to proceed to the Supreme Court, particularly where the appeal concerns an interim or procedural issue.
Ghana’s Supreme Court is the country’s highest court and exercises appellate jurisdiction over decisions from the Court of Appeal, among other constitutionally defined functions. The Court of Appeal, in turn, handles appeals from the High Court and other courts and tribunals as provided by law.
Akuffo’s comments also reflect a concern she has expressed through her judicial career about the need for efficient court processes. During her time as a Supreme Court judge and later as Chief Justice, she was involved in cases and judicial initiatives dealing with procedural issues and the administration of justice.
Her latest remarks, however, are a call for consideration of how the appellate system can prevent procedural disputes from unnecessarily holding up substantive cases.
