Vitus Azeem, a prominent anti- corruption campaigner, has called for the abolishment of the long judicial vacation in Ghana, describing the practice as outdated and a major contributor to delays in the country’s justice delivery system.
Speaking on the matter, Mr. Azeem argued that the two-month break taken annually by judges and other judicial officers no longer serves the purpose for which it was originally instituted. He said that the tradition dated back to the colonial era, has become a bottleneck that denies ordinary citizens timely access to justice.
Mr. Azeem explained that the judicial vacation was introduced during colonial times primarily because the courts were not air-conditioned and the weather at the time made it difficult for judges to work during certain months of the year.
He noted that with modern facilities, including air-conditioned courtrooms and improved working conditions, there is no longer any justification for shutting down the courts for such a prolonged period.
“The practice was put in place during colonial times because the courts were not air-conditioned. Today, we have the infrastructure to keep the courts running all year round”.
Vitus Azeem, a prominent anti- corruption campaigner
He pointed out that while the courts are on vacation, thousands of cases remain pending. Litigants, witnesses, lawyers, and families are left waiting for months before their cases can be heard; justice delayed is justice denied, and the current system only worsens public frustration with the judiciary.
Mr. Azeem further argued that judges and judicial staff are public officers who, like workers in other sectors, are entitled to annual leave. However, he stressed that annual leave should not be taken at the same time by the entire judiciary. Instead, he suggested a system where leave is staggered so that some courts remain operational throughout the year.
He emphasised that Judges are public officers and they are entitled to take their annual leave. He added that even if it was a two month leave, it could still be given at the time. However, it did not mean all of them should go on leave. He suggested that some could go on leave while others remain to sit so that continuous justice delivery could be ensured.
He stressed that the long vacation has a ripple effect beyond the courts. Other stakeholders in the justice chain, including the police, prosecutors, and legal aid services, are also affected because cases cannot progress when the courts are closed.
The anti-corruption advocate emphasized that reforming the judicial calendar would not only improve efficiency but also restore public confidence in the legal system. He urged the Judicial Council and other relevant authorities to review the current arrangement and adopt a more modern approach that prioritizes the needs of litigants.
A Call on Policy Makers
He called on policymakers to consider alternative models used in other jurisdictions where courts operate throughout the year, with judges taking leave on a rotational basis. This, he believes, will ensure that there is always a judge available to hear urgent matters and to keep cases moving.
Mr. Azeem also addressed concerns that judges need rest and time for research and writing judgments. While acknowledging that judges have demanding workloads, he maintained that rest can be built into a staggered leave system without shutting down the entire judiciary.
He added that technology and better case management systems could also help judges manage their workload more effectively. The campaigner further urged the government and the Judicial Service to invest more in infrastructure and human resources to support a year-round court system.
He said that with proper planning, it is possible to maintain judicial efficiency while still protecting the welfare of judges and court staff.
Moreover, Mr. Azeem insisted that the interest of the ordinary Ghanaian who seeks justice must come first. He called for a national conversation on judicial reform and stated that the time had come for Ghana to move away from the colonial-era practices that no longer served the public good.
He argued that a twenty -first century justice system could not continue to operate on the eighteenth century calendar and that Ghanaians deserve better, and that action was needed urgently.
Whether the judicial council would heed to the call to end the long vacation remains to be seen, but for many Ghanaians, the hope is that justice would no longer have to wait.
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