By King Amoah, Our Chief Correspondent
A clarion call has been issued to the Chief Justice of Ghana, His Lordship Justice Baffoe Bonnie to take a decisive action against legal practitioners who weaponize court procedures to strategically delay justice.
Mr. Hayford Bright Antwi a renowned retired legal practitioner based in Kumasi has expressed deep concern over a growing trend where certain lawyers exploit the judicial system to frustrate simple matters to render the principle of justice unattainable for many citizens
The Erosion of Public Trust:
In a press release dated Monday September 13 2026, Mr. Antwi argued that the constant unnecessary requests for adjournments erode public confidence in the Judiciary.
While he acknowledges that the law provides a mechanism for adjournments, he insisted that these provisions are being abused with impunity.
The law was never intended to be a tool for obstruction, Mr. Antwi stated adding that when lawyers choose to drag out simple cases which often know that their clients would likely lose or simply to serve their own financial interests they are not just practicing the law but rather denying the citizens of their fundamental rights to justice.
Mr. Antwi noted that there are many cases that could be settled out of court or resolved in a matter of days that are being stretched into years of litigation, leaving the average citizen disillusioned and weary of the legal process.
The Case of the Association of Day Pentecostal Assemblies:
To illustrate the impact of these tactics, Mr. Antwi pointed to the ongoing legal battle within the Association of 7th Day Pentecostal Assemblies in Kumasi.
He reiterated that the case which has been dragged on for 18 years was centers on a leadership dispute following the death of the church’s founder.
Despite the church’s constitution which gives mandate for an election to elect a successor, and explicitly prohibiting family or personal interference, the legal process has been mired in endless motions and appeals.
According to Mr. Antwi even after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Elder Enoch Ofori Jnr earlier this year and both parties previously authorized the Electoral Commission to conduct an elections per the verdict conditions,the defendants’ legal team has filed yet another writ to halt the process.
For 18 years this simple matter has been kept in legal limbo, Mr. Antwi lamented, and observed that this isn’t just a legal issue; it is a spiritual crisis.
Antwi noted that the lack of a substantive leader is pushing believers away from their faith and tearing the community apart.
A Call for Judicial Vigilance:
Mr. Antwi on this note is urging the Chief Justice to provide a strong guidance on the judges across the country. He argues that the bench must be more vigilant in identifying “frivolous” delays and must not allow lawyers to hide behind the law to waste the court’s time on less important issues as well as the resources of taxpayers.
Strict Adjournment Policies:
Mr Antwi suggested that the courts should implement the following : A “zero tolerance” policy for adjournments unless there are documented and unavoidable emergencies.
Cost Implications: Introducing financial sanctions or costs against legal teams that file frivolous motions designed solely to delay proceedings.
Case Management Reforms: Greater reliance on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for civil matters, particularly those involving religious or communal leadership to avoid protracted litigations.
Judicial Oversight: Empowering judges to dismiss cases or motions that are clearly intended to abuse the court process.
As the nation watches the plea from the legal veteran highlights of a critical crossroads: whether the Ghanaian legal system will continue to be a bastion for justice or whether it will continue to be sidelined by those who profit from the delay of truth.
