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Court of Appeal

Appeal to the Court of Appeal

Civil appeal from the High Court, from notice of appeal through record settlement to hearing.

Timeline runs from
Date judgment was delivered
Primary rules
C.I. 19 (Court of Appeal Rules 1997) · Courts Act 1993 (Act 459)
Apply this roadmap to a case

Governing instruments

  • C.I. 47High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (2004)

    Master rules for civil practice in the High Court: commencement, service, pleadings, interlocutory applications, discovery, trial, judgment and enforcement.

    Binds: High Court · Circuit Court (with modifications)

  • C.I. 19Court of Appeal Rules, 1997 (1997)

    Notice of appeal, records, stay of execution, written submissions and the conduct of appeals.

    Binds: Court of Appeal

  • Act 459Courts Act, 1993 (1993)

    Jurisdiction, composition and transfer of causes between the courts.

    Binds: All courts

Stage by stage

  1. 01

    File notice of appeal

    Plaintiff / Applicant · C.I. 19 r.9 — 3 months for a final judgment, 21 days interlocutory · day 0

    State the grounds and the relief sought. Out of time, apply for extension with the reasons for delay.

    Time limit: 3 months from a final judgment; 21 days from an interlocutory decision (C.I. 19 r.9).

    Form: Notice of appeal — C.I. 19 Form 1 — confirm the form number against the current print

    Assemble: Notice of appeal, Certified judgment

    Official cost: Notice of appeal — GH₵300.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 1, Pt. I (Court of Appeal))

    Omnibus 'judgment is against the weight of evidence' grounds with no particulars.

  2. 02

    Consider stay of execution / injunction pending appeal

    Plaintiff / Applicant · C.I. 19 r.27; C.I. 47 Order 43 · day 7

    Apply first to the court below; on refusal, repeat to the Court of Appeal.

    Time limit: Apply first to the court below; then repeat to the Court of Appeal (C.I. 19 r.27).

    Authority: Joseph v Jebeille [1963] 1 GLR 387

    Official cost: Motion (stay of execution, extension of time) — GH₵200.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 1, Pt. I — motions)

  3. 03

    Settle and transmit the record of appeal

    Court · C.I. 19 rr.11-13 — three months to transmit · day 60

    Follow up with the registry: failure to compile can lead to the appeal being struck out for want of prosecution.

    Time limit: Record settled and transmitted within 3 months (C.I. 19 rr.11-13).

    Official cost: Preparation and transmission of the record of appeal — Assessed by the registry (C.I. 86 Sch. 3 — assessed per page by the registry)

    Leaving record compilation entirely to the registry without follow-up.

  4. 04

    File written submissions

    Either party · C.I. 19 r.20 · day 100

    Submissions tied to each ground of appeal, with the record references.

    Time limit: As directed by the registrar under C.I. 19 r.20.

    Assemble: Written submissions, List of authorities

    Official cost: Written submissions — GH₵150.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 1, Pt. I)

  5. 05

    Hearing and judgment

    Court · C.I. 19 r.21 · day 150

    Note the further appeal window to the Supreme Court under C.I. 16 once judgment is delivered.

Official court costs are drawn from the C.I. 86 (2014) as amended — schedule v1 schedule and are recovered from the client at cost, separately from professional fees. Registries assess some charges per page or per mile.

This roadmap is a planning aid, not legal advice. Rules are amended and the court may give directions that displace these defaults — always verify against the cited rule.

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