Lawyers to file both hardcopies, E-versions of all submissions-Northern Sector Court of Appeal
The directive, issued from Kumasi and signed by Justice Eric Baah, President of the Court of Appeal (Kumasi), will take effect from 1st March 2026.
In a decisive move signaling a gradual but strategic shift toward judicial modernization, the Court of Appeal in Ghana’s Northern Sector has introduced a directive requiring lawyers to submit electronic copies of their written submissions alongside traditional hard copies.
The directive, issued from Kumasi and signed by Justice Eric Baah, President of the Court of Appeal (Kumasi), will take effect from 1st March 2026. It applies to all lawyers appearing before the Court of Appeal in Kumasi and Tamale.
At its core, the policy represents a process optimization initiative aimed at improving operational efficiency within the appellate system. By mandating the submission of digital versions via pen drives, the Court seeks to streamline access to case materials and significantly reduce delays associated with manual document handling.
According to the directive, the initiative is expected to “reduce the turnaround time for the delivery of judgments and enhance justice delivery as a whole.” This positions the reform as part of a broader performance enhancement strategy within Ghana’s judicial ecosystem.
Although the directive is explicitly described as non-binding in strict legal terms, its tone underscores a strong expectation of compliance. Lawyers are urged to observe the new requirement as a professional standard, reinforcing a culture of procedural efficiency and responsiveness within the legal community.
