In a bid to improve efficiency and restore public confidence in Ghana’s legal process, the Judicial Service has ordered all court registrars and clerks nationwide to notify lawyers and litigants whenever a court is unable to sit or a scheduled hearing is adjourned.

The directive which was issued in an official memo dated October 12, 2026, and signed by the Judicial Secretary, Musah Ahmed, seeks to address growing concerns over late notifications, which have routinely forced lawyers and their clients to incur unnecessary transport costs, lose working hours, and endure severe financial distress.

Judicial Secretary Musah Ahmed stated in the directive that when a court is unable to sit and the information is not communicated timeously, the burden placed upon counsel and litigants is unacceptable. He added that such occurrences not only impose unnecessary financial costs but also undermine public confidence in the judicial process.

To ensure full compliance, the Judicial Service has outlined a mandatory protocol that must be strictly observed across all court levels.

First, registrars and assigned court clerks must proactively contact affected parties as soon as it becomes clear a court will not sit.

Second, notifications must be dispatched through approved digital channels, specifically WhatsApp, SMS, or email.

Third, court registries must actively maintain accurate, up-to-date contact records for all lawyers and their clients to facilitate seamless communication.

The circular warned administrative staff that non-compliance with the directive will carry serious administrative penalties.

The Judicial Service emphasised that registrars are ultimately responsible for ensuring messages are sent promptly, and that failure to do so without valid justification will be treated as a serious dereliction of duty.