Supreme Court nominee Justice Philip Bright Mensah has proposed that Ghana’s judiciary be allowed to retain a significant portion—between 50% to 70%—of its Internally Generated Funds (IGF). He argues this would drastically improve the judiciary’s operational efficiency and lessen its reliance on central government funding.
During his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Justice Mensah emphasized the critical importance of financial independence for the judiciary.
He acknowledged that, under current laws, all IGF must be directed into the consolidated fund, which then serves as the primary source of government financing for public institutions, including the judiciary.
“The revenue we generate is legally required to go into the consolidated fund,” he noted. “That’s how the government finances institutions such as the judiciary.”
Despite these legal constraints, Justice Mensah suggested that permitting the judiciary to retain a considerable share of its own revenue could significantly boost service delivery and institutional autonomy. “I’m not advocating for the judiciary to keep 100% of the funds,” he clarified, “but retaining around 50% to 70% would be a practical and impactful step forward.”
