President John Dramani Mahama has sworn in 21 new Court of Appeal justices with nine of them being women, exceeding the 30 percent requirement under the Affirmative Action Law.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony at the Presidency, President Mahama said he was proud of the batch of justices because of the gender balance achieved.
“I am quite proud of this batch of Appeal Court Justices, because, and the reason is that out of 20, we have nine women. The Affirmative Action Law says 30 percent of appointments, this one we’re beating 30 percent by far,” he said.
The President described the ceremony as a renewal of the covenant between the judiciary and the Ghanaian people in whom the sovereign power lies.
“This is not merely a ceremony of robes and oaths; it is a renewal of the covenant between us and the Ghanaian people in whom the sovereign power lies. For when citizens walk into the courts of this nation, they do not simply seek judgments; they seek hope, hope that the law will protect them, hope that their rights will be respected, and hope that their voices will be heard,” he stated.
He emphasized that the Court of Appeal is the people’s court of renewal where errors are corrected, injustices are reversed, and principles are reaffirmed that no wrong is beyond remedy.
“For many Ghanaians, the Court of Appeal is often the last hope for justice when all other avenues have been exhausted. And that is why the authority we assume today is not only legal but profoundly moral. You hold in your hands the power to heal wounds, to restore confidence, and to guide our nation towards fairness,” he said.
President Mahama acknowledged that courts have not escaped criticism in recent times. He noted that citizens have openly and sometimes harshly questioned judicial decisions.
“But I want to say clearly, criticisms of judgments is not the end of hope, it is the evidence of hope. It shows that Ghanaians still believe in the courts, that justice still matters, and that verdicts have meaning in their lives,” he added.
He urged the justices to guard against cynicism, which he described as the corrosive belief that the courts no longer serve the people but only the powerful in society.
“To rebuild trust, our courts must demonstrate in word and deed that justice is not compromised by status, wealth, or political convenience,” he said.
The President told the new justices that their judgments should not silence criticism but inspire confidence in the people.
“Let your judgments reassure Ghanaians that while we may debate outcomes, we can never doubt your integrity, your impartiality, and your fidelity to the national constitution,” he stated.
President Mahama noted that the renewal of courts is at the heart of economic transformation. He said justice is the invisible infrastructure on which every economy, every community, and every democracy rests.
“Investors will not risk their capital where contracts can be overturned by bias and prejudice. Entrepreneurs will not thrive where land disputes trap them in endless litigation. Communities cannot live in peace where verdicts are held in doubt,” he stated.
He urged the justices to be not only arbiters of law but also custodians of hope.
“Carry with you the solemn truth that justice is the most powerful promise of our democracy, and that through your service, this promise would endure,” he said.
The newly sworn-in justices are Justice Justin Kofi Dorgu, Justice Daniel Mensah, Justice George Buadi, Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu, Justice John Bosco Nabarese, Justice Jennifer Anne Myers Ahmed, Justice Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe, Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah, Justice Dr Richmond Osei-Hwere, Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga, and Justice Ali Baba Abature.
Others are Justice Abena Asuamah Oppong, Justice Mariama Sammo, Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, Justice Ayitey Armah-Tetteh, Justice Charity Akosua Asem, Justice Enyonam Adinyira, Justice Sheila Minta, Justice Douglas Seidu, Justice Charles Adjei Wilson, and Mrs. Franklina Gesila Adanu
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
