Supreme Court Judge nominee, Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, has called for a broader and more inclusive jury system to enhance Ghana’s criminal justice process. Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Friday, June 20, 2025, Justice Ackaah-Boafo described Ghana’s jury system as a fundamentally sound mechanism that reflects the principle of being judged by one’s peers.
However, he said the current scope of jury selection—mostly limited to public servants—was too narrow and required reform. “Recently there was a provision with regard to juries. Let me say that our jury system is a good system. The idea is that your peers listen to your case and rule on it,” he noted. He proposed that eligibility for jury duty be expanded to include all Ghanaian citizens above the age of 21, including private individuals, through a framework that could be anchored at the district assembly level.
“Instead of restricting nominations to public servants, could we establish a system where every Ghanaian over the age of 21 is eligible to serve as a juror at the district assembly? By expanding the pool, we would have more people willing to participate, which would enrich the process,” he explained.
Justice Ackaah-Boafo emphasised that a more diverse jury pool could help speed up criminal trials and reduce the delays that currently affect the justice system. “We need a system that allows us to resolve criminal cases in a timely manner. We shouldn’t be trying cases from 2022 in 2025,” he stressed, noting that having a larger, more accessible jury pool could make day-to-day trials more manageable.
By: William Narh
