Gambia’s minister highlights challenges, digital solutions to delayed cases

The issue of delayed justice in The Gambia has sparked concern, with Hon. Minister addressing the multifaceted reasons behind the setbacks while outlining ongoing efforts to tackle the problem.

Responding to inquiries, the Hon. Minister explained, “It is not our wish to delay the process, but efforts are underway to address this issue. The delay is caused by many factors. For instance, in a criminal case, it has to first go through the police before it comes to my office. Also, either the state law officer or the private lawyer might choose a date favorable to them, since they may be handling many cases.”

The Minister also highlighted operational inefficiencies within the judiciary. “The judiciary is still using pen and paper to record the entire proceedings. Imagine a judge writing everything by hand, how many proceedings can they cover in a day?”

To address these issues, the government is actively working on digital reforms aimed at transforming judicial processes. “We are working on digitalizing judicial processes. Proceedings will be recorded and transcribed into text, ready for magistrates and judges to use, saving time and energy,” the Minister added.

This modernization plan aims to enhance efficiency and ensure timely delivery of justice, offering hope for significant improvements in The Gambia’s legal system.