The Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has called for stronger collaboration among justice and security sector institutions to combat cross-border crime and address congestion in the courts and prisons.

He said closer coordination among the Judiciary, the Ghana Immigration Service, and the Ghana Prisons Service was essential to improving justice delivery and strengthening national security.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie made the call on Tuesday during separate working visits to the headquarters of the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana Prisons Service in Accra.

He explained that the visits were not summonses but part of his governance approach of direct engagement and dialogue among institutions within the justice delivery and security architecture.

He noted that although the institutions operated independently, they were bound by a shared responsibility to ensure justice, security, and public safety.

At the Ghana Immigration Service, the Chief Justice stressed the need for enhanced cooperation to deal with cross-border crimes such as human trafficking, cybercrime, narcotics trafficking, and illegal mining.

He said weaknesses in coordination and delays in adjudication had allowed some foreign nationals arrested for serious offences to exploit the justice system through prolonged trials and repeated bail applications.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said his administration was considering the establishment of specialised courts to fast-track cases involving organised and transnational crimes.

He also raised concerns about foreign involvement in illegal mining and environmental crimes and questioned how some offenders entered the country and obtained work permits.

The Comptroller General of the Ghana Immigration Service, Mr Samuel Basintale Amadu, described the visit as historic and unprecedented, assuring the Judiciary of the Service’s continued commitment to enforcing court orders.

He said the Service had consistently enforced arrest warrants, travel restrictions, and deportation directives, often at short notice, particularly at airports and border points.

Mr Amadu appealed for stiffer penalties to deter immigration and citizenship fraud, especially involving West African and other foreign nationals who attempted to acquire Ghanaian passports with the support of some Ghanaians.

During his visit to the Ghana Prisons Service, the Chief Justice said congestion in the courts had a direct impact on overcrowding in the prisons, particularly involving remand prisoners whose cases were delayed for long periods.

He said it was not the wish of the Judiciary for persons to remain on remand indefinitely, noting that prolonged trials worsened congestion in correctional facilities.

He announced plans to introduce a shift court system, comprising morning and afternoon sittings, as part of measures to decongest the courts. He said the Judiciary already operated Saturday courts and that the shift system was intended to improve case disposal rates.

The Chief Justice further disclosed that specialised courts would be rolled out to handle cases involving cybercrime, illegal mining, human trafficking, and cross-border offences.

He expressed concern about reports of cybercrime and other offences being committed from within prisons, facilitated by trafficked electronic devices, and urged prison authorities to intensify vigilance.

He also announced plans to engage the Ghana Prisons Service in capacity building and sentencing discussions, noting that excessively long sentences contributed to prison overcrowding and could be counterproductive to reformation.

He invited the Director General of Prisons and her team to engage newly sworn circuit court judges undergoing induction on sentencing guidelines and prison conditions.

The Chief Justice stressed that sustained collaboration among the Judiciary, Immigration Service, and Prisons Service was critical to strengthening justice delivery and ensuring public safety.