Justice Amaleboba supports limit on Supreme Court judges but calls for reforms first

Supreme Court nominee Justice Hafisata Amaleboba has backed proposals to place a limit on the number of justices serving on the Supreme Court bench but cautioned that such a move should follow reforms to address the operational challenges facing the judiciary.

She made the remark on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, during her vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee.

“I support capping the number of Supreme Court judges, but we should not rush to do so until we address the challenges facing the Supreme Court, such as case backlogs and its various jurisdictions,” Justice Amaleboba said in response to a question at the vetting.

According to her, placing a cap too early, without addressing the court's growing workload and overlapping jurisdictions, could create more problems in the future.

“Prematurely capping the number could necessitate frequent constitutional amendments if increases are justified. Once these issues are resolved, we can better assess annual caseloads and establish a reasonable cap,” she added.

Ghana’s Supreme Court currently has 13 justices. If all seven nominees under consideration are approved, including Justice Amaleboba, the number will rise to 20. This prospect has stirred debate within Parliament and among legal professionals over its possible impact on the court's effectiveness and public confidence.

Dr Amaleboba also spoke on the responsibilities of judges who hold traditional titles, stating that such judges must be cautious in public discourse.

“As a judge and a chief, one must be measured in political commentary, especially in supporting one group over another,” she said. “Judges should exercise restraint in their language to maintain neutrality.”

During the vetting, she explained that Ghana’s legal framework already allows for child maintenance under the Matrimonial Causes Act.

“In Ghana, we already have provisions for child support, referred to as maintenance,” she said. “Under the law, one can apply for maintenance without seeking divorce.”

She added that the adoption process begins with the Department of Social Welfare, which conducts an initial assessment before a court decision is made. A Central Adoption Authority, she noted, has now been established to manage such applications more efficiently.

The Appointments Committee is expected to complete its vetting of all the nominees in the coming days, after which it will present its recommendations to Parliament.