President John Mahama has outlined sweeping judicial reforms as part of his government’s Reset Agenda, stressing that rebuilding the nation must also include restoring faith in democratic institutions, particularly the judiciary.

Speaking after swearing in 21 Justices of the Court of Appeal at the Jubilee House on Thursday, October 2, President Mahama said the Reset Agenda was not limited to physical infrastructure and economic growth but was equally about “fostering a more inclusive society” and “renewing the pillars of our democracy.”

“A judiciary that delivers swift, fair and transparent justice is a cornerstone of this reset that we talk about, and that is why the NDC 2024 manifesto commits us to reforms that will make justice more efficient and accessible to our people,” he stated.

The President outlined five key interventions including digitising the courts to reduce adjournments and delays; establishing specialised divisions at the High Court and Court of Appeal to handle land, commercial, and labour disputes; introducing time-bound case management systems to eliminate prolonged litigation; expanding legal aid services to ensure justice is accessible to all, not just the wealthy; and strengthening judicial ethics and accountability to root out corruption.

“These are not abstract promises. They are concrete steps that will make justice not only more credible, but also more hopeful,” he stressed.

President Mahama stated that justice is inseparable from development, describing it as “the invisible infrastructure on which every economy, every community and every democracy rests.”

He cautioned that investors and entrepreneurs will not thrive in an environment where contracts can be overturned by bias or where land disputes drag on for years.

“The renewal of our courts is at the heart of our economic transformation,” the President added.