High Court sittings extended to 6:30 pm as special criminal sessions start today
By DL News
Published
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The change takes effect from Monday, 9 February 2026, when special court sessions begin to clear backlogs in selected criminal cases.
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has ordered High Courts to extend working hours, with court offices now to operate until 6:30pm on weekdays.
The change takes effect from Monday, 9 February 2026, when special court sessions begin to clear backlogs in selected criminal cases.
The dedicated sessions will focus on high-priority offences including cybercrime, illegal mining (galamsey), human trafficking and cross-border crimes.
In a circular dated 5 February 2026 and sent to judges, magistrates, court administrators and heads of department, the Chief Justice directed that High Court offices should be open from 8:00am to 6:30pm, instead of the previous 8:00am to 4:00pm.
He said the directive is backed by Order 79 Rule 3(1) of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (CI 47), which allows the Chief Justice to set court office hours.
