Government has announced plans to set up specialised courts dedicated to prosecuting audit failures, illegal mining (galamsey) and other environmental offences, in a move aimed at improving accountability and protecting public resources.
The plan was revealed in a Facebook post by Joyce Bawah Mogtari, Special Advisor to the President, on Monday, November 17, 2025. She said the courts will help tackle long-standing issues of corruption, mismanagement and environmental destruction. According to her, the specialised courts will operate with nationwide “circuit adjudications” to ensure access to justice in all regions.
The initiative was developed in consultation with Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine, and Auditor-General Johnson Akuamoah-Asiedu. “These specialised courts are a decisive step to confront endemic corruption and environmental harm. For too long, audit infractions and illegal mining have gone unpunished,” the statement noted.
Key objectives of the specialised courts
- Close the enforcement gap: Many audit reports have flagged mismanagement of public funds, but prosecutions have often stalled. The courts are expected to fast-track financial and environmental cases.
- Deter corruption: By linking audit findings directly to legal action, public officers found culpable will face consequences for mismanagement.
- Address environmental crimes: Illegal mining and related offences will be treated as serious national threats due to their impact on natural resources and sustainable development.
- Increase public confidence: Circuit sittings across the regions will reduce delays and make the justice process more transparent.
- Protect public resources: Speedy trials will help secure funds meant for schools, hospitals, infrastructure and other public needs.
Requirements for success
Officials highlighted that the courts will need:
- Adequate resourcing for judges, prosecutors and investigators with expertise in financial and environmental law
- Transparent publication of case outcomes
- Strong whistle-blower and witness protection
- Governance reforms such as procurement discipline and open contracting
- Consistent political commitment beyond election cycles
Governance experts, however, caution that if the courts are under-resourced or overloaded, they may repeat past challenges in prosecuting financial and environmental crimes. Ensuring judicial independence, preventing political interference and supporting communities affected by illegal mining will be essential.
Government stressed that the Auditor-General will continue exercising constitutional powers to disallow illegal expenditures and surcharge individuals responsible for financial infractions. This, it said, reinforces the message that impunity will no longer be tolerated.
The establishment of these specialised courts marks a major step in Ghana’s accountability and environmental protection efforts. As the country enters this new phase, both officials and citizens are being called upon to ensure the system delivers justice fairly and efficiently.
Story by Doe Benjamin Kofi Lawson