BCL – L1 – Q6 – Hierarchical Structure of Courts

Describe the stages of appeal for civil matters in Ghana's judicial system.

Question

Describe the stages of appeal and how the appellate system of adjudication operates in the judicial system of Ghana under the following:

(a) Civil matters

(b) Criminal matters

Answer

(a). In Civil matters, the judicial system works as follows:

The Supreme Court is the final appellate Court; Therefore, appeals started at the lower Appellate Courts end up at the Supreme Court.

An appeal from the Court of Appeal goes to the Supreme Court.

Appeals from the High Court and the Circuit Court go to the Court of Appeal.

An appeal from the District Court goes to the High Court.

(b). In Criminal matters, the adjudication system works as follows:

The Supreme Court is the final appellate Court. Therefore, the criminal appeal started at the Appellate Court below terminated at the Supreme Court.

An appeal from the Court of Appeal goes to the Supreme Court.

An appeal from the High Court goes to the Court of Appeal.

An appeal from the Circuit court goes to the High Court.

An appeal from the District Court goes to the High Court.