Chief Justice Inaugurates 12 Claims and Debt Recovery Courts
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has announced the establishment of debt and claims recovery courts in 12 selected district courts in Accra and Kumasi, a move inspired by the operations of Bills MicroCredit (Quick Credit & Investment Micro-Credit Ltd). This initiative aims to clear the backlog of pending cases in district courts across Ghana.
Speaking at the launch ceremony at the La District Court in Accra, Chief Justice Torkornoo highlighted a significant increase in small claims filed in Ghana’s District Courts, necessitating urgent measures to manage the situation.
Rising Caseload
According to Chief Justice Torkornoo, “The increase in small claims was confirmed by physical counts and analysis conducted by my office, revealing that the surge in cases was primarily due to thousands of new filings by Bills MicroCredit for debt recovery.”
An analysis by the Judicial Service’s quality assurance and monitoring departments, which sampled seven District Courts in Accra—including Adenta, Teshie, Sowutuom, Ashaiman, Weija, and Gbese—revealed that Quick Credit & Investment Micro-Credit Ltd accounted for a significant portion of the caseload. In Adenta District Courts 1 & 2, for example, 15% of the 773 active cases as of May 2024 were filed by the microcredit firm, with over 70% of these cases involving claims of less than GH₵5000.
“This pattern was consistent across other sampled courts, where the company’s share of active cases ranged from 14% to 43%. The data showed that over 70% of the cases filed by Quick Credit & Investment Micro-Credit Ltd involved claims under GH₵5000,” Chief Justice Torkornoo remarked.
The increased volume of small claims cases threatened to overwhelm the already busy district courts, necessitating immediate intervention.
Collaborative Solution
To address this challenge, the Judicial Service engaged with the leadership of Bills MicroCredit, resulting in the creation of debt and claims recovery courts.
“The Small Claims and Debt Recovery Courts, initially operating on a pilot basis, will cover 12 courts—eight in the Greater Accra Region and four in the Ashanti Region. These courts will hold sessions every weekday afternoon and on Saturdays,” stated Chief Justice Torkornoo.
In Greater Accra, the District Courts in Ashaiman, Teshie, Kasoa, and La will operate on Saturdays, while Weija, Sowutuom, Adenta Court 2, and Gbese will hold weekday afternoon sessions. In the Ashanti Region, Asokwa District Court 2 and Prempeh Assembly Hall District Court 1 will operate on Saturdays, with Asokwa Circuit Court 2 and Asokwa Circuit Court Conference Hall holding weekday afternoon sessions.
“We expect that the launch of these Small Claims Debt Recovery Courts, with the cooperation of citizens and businesses, will help address the nearly 55,000 claims filed by Quick Credit & Investment Micro-Credit Ltd alone,” Chief Justice Torkornoo added.
Timely Response
Richard Quaye, Chairman of Bills MicroCredit, commended the Judicial Service’s swift response to the increasing number of small claims. He noted that the company’s growing client base reflects trust in its financial services, but also presents challenges, including a high volume of defaulters.
“With over 30,000 claims filed by our company seeking expedited hearings, the establishment of the small claims courts will greatly alleviate the burden on our judicial system, ensuring quicker and more efficient resolutions,” Mr. Quaye said.
He emphasized that an expedited legal process benefits creditors, debtors, and the broader community by promptly resolving financial disputes, maintaining trust in financial and judicial systems, and encouraging continued economic activity.
