CHAPTER
2
HIERARCHY OF COURTS IN GHANA
SHOWING THEIR JURISDICTIONAL
LIMITS IN HANDLING ELECTION
DISPUTES
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SUPERIOR
COURTS OF JUDICATURE
SUPREME COURT
I.Has
original
jurisdiction in
handling all
election disputes in
Presidential
election.
2 No
appellate
jurisdiction in
Parliamentary
elections |
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APPEAL COURT
I.
Has
appellate
jurisdiction in
Parliamentary
Election disputes
2.Has
appellate
jurisdiction in
dealing with
electoral offences.
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LOWER COURTS CIRCUIT
COURTS
I.
Has
no Jurisdiction in
handling election
disputes of any
kind.
2.Has
Jurisdiction in
dealing with
electoral offences.
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REGIONAL TRIBUNAL
I.
Has
no original or
appellate
Jurisdiction in
election disputes.
2.Has
jurisdiction in
electoral offences
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Judicial Committee
of National House of
Chiefs Has no civil
or criminal
jurisdiction of any
kind in electoral
disputes or
electoral offences
Judicial Committee
of Regional House of
Chiefs Has no
civil or criminal
jurisdiction of
any kind in
electoral disputes
or electoral
offences
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JUVENILE COURTS
Has
criminal
jurisdiction
over
juveniles in
electoral offenses
criminal
jurisdiction of any
kind in electoral
disputes or
electoral offences
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FAMILY TRIBUNAL
Has
no civil or
Judicial Committee
of Traditional
Councils Has no
civil or criminal
jurisdiction of any
kind in electoral
disputes or
electoral offences
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should be noted that appeals
from the circuit court in
respect of criminal cases
whenever electoral offences are
dealt with lie to the High Court
and from there, further appeals
are allowed to the Court of
Appeal and to the Supreme Court.
The same way criminal appeals
lie from decisions of the
Regional Tribunals to the Court
of Appeal and thereafter to the
Supreme Court.
In the case of minors or
Juveniles dealt with by the
Juvenile Court, in respect of
electoral offences appeals lie
from there to the High Court,
Court of Appeal and the Supreme
Court.
It should be emphasised that
though the Judicial Committees
of the National House of Chiefs,
Regional House of Chiefs and
Traditional Councils are
constitutionally part of the
Lower Courts System, they have
no jurisdiction of any kind in
electoral disputes. Their
jurisdiction· is confined to
cases or matters affecting
chieftaincy. |
