Justice Dzamefe Advocates AI and Virtual Courtrooms to Reform Judiciary

Supreme Court nominee Justice Senyo Dzamefe has called for a sweeping technological transformation of Ghana’s judicial system, advocating for the immediate implementation of artificial intelligence, digital transcription tools, and virtual courtrooms to replace outdated manual practices.

Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, June 16, 2025, Justice Dzamefe made a compelling case for modernisation, stressing that the judiciary must move beyond handwritten notes and analog methods to meet the demands of timely and effective justice.

“The era of longhand documentation is behind us—we need to embrace technology,” he asserted.

Justice Dzamefe underscored the benefits of AI-powered transcription and voice recording systems, which he said would allow for real-time documentation of court proceedings, boosting both transparency and efficiency.

“At the close of court proceedings, records should be instantly available. We also need to adopt virtual hearings so that individuals can testify remotely. We must evolve with the times or risk being left behind,” he added.

His comments come amid mounting pressure for judicial reforms in Ghana, where the legal system is frequently criticised for backlogged cases, slow trials, and limited accessibility—especially in rural areas.

Justice Dzamefe’s vision mirrors a growing global shift toward digitised justice systems, aimed at increasing accuracy, reducing delays, and expanding access. His support for virtual courtrooms also echoes practices adopted worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many courts moved to remote operations out of necessity.

If confirmed, Justice Dzamefe is expected to bring a progressive, tech-forward approach to the Supreme Court, energising national efforts to modernise Ghana’s justice system for the digital era.