L.I. 2429
Courts Regulations 2020
Published in the Government Gazette on 9 October 2020
Assented to on 8 October 2020
Commenced on 16 December 2020
[Up to date as at 9 October 2020]
IN EXERCISE of the power conferred on the Attorney-General by subsection 42 and subsection (4) of section 47 of the Courts Act, 1993 (Act 459), these Regulations are made on this 8th day of October, 2020.
1. Purpose of Regulations
The purpose of these Regulations is to expand the jurisdiction of the District Courts and Circuit Courts in respect of claims with stated monetary value.
2. Section 42 of Act 459 amended
The Courts Act, 1993 (Act 459) referred to in these Regulations as the “principal enactment” is amended in subsection (1) of section 42 by the substitution for
(a) subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a), of
“(i) in a personal action arising under a contract or a tort, or for the recovery of a liquidated sum of money, where the amount claimed does not exceed two million Ghana Cedis;” and
(b) subparagaph (vii) of paragraph (a), of
“(vii) in an application for the grant of probate or letters of administration in respect of the estate of a deceased person, and in causes and matters relating to succession to property of a deceased person, who had, at the time of death a fixed place of abode within the area of jurisdiction of the Circuit Court and the value of the estate or property in question does not exceed two million Ghana Cedis;”
3. Section 47 of Act 459 amended
The principal enactment is amended in subsection (1) of section 47 by the substitution for
(a) paragraph (a) of
“(a) in a personal action arising under a contract or a tort or for the recovery of a liquidated sum of money where the amount claimed does not exceed five hundred thousand Ghana Cedis;”,
(b) paragraph (e) of
“(e) in an action relating to ownership, possession or occupation of land, where the value of land does not exceed five hundred thousand Ghana Cedis” and
(c) paragraph (g) of
“(g) in an application for the grant of probate or letters of administration in respect of the estate of a deceased person and in causes and matters relating to succession to property of a deceased person, who has at the time of death a fixed place of abode within the area of jurisdiction of the District Court and the value of the estate or proper win question does not exceed five hundred thousand Ghana Cedis;”
4. Revocation
The Courts (Amendment) Regulations, 2014 (L.I.2211) is revoked.
5. Transitional provision
A court shall, within two years of the coming into force of these Regulations, conclude a case pending before the court under L.I. 2211.
GLORIA AFUA AKUFFO (MISS)
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
