Mahama tasks new Supreme Court justices to make justice more accessible

President John Dramani Mahama has charged Ghana’s newly appointed Supreme Court justices to help bridge the gap between constitutional justice and the everyday experiences of citizens, warning that judicial independence must be matched by efficiency, accountability and timely delivery of justice. Speaking at the swearing-in of three new Supreme Court justices at Jubilee House on Thursday, September 10, President Mahama said the judiciary’s credibility depended not only on the quality of its decisions but also on whether ordinary Ghanaians could access justice without undue delay. Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokouan Bernasko-Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Anthony Fawson Jr, popularly known as Tony Fawson, were sworn into office after receiving Parliament’s approval.

The President said their appointment came with a responsibility extending beyond the determination of individual cases, as the Supreme Court remains the final judicial authority on matters affecting the Constitution, national governance and the development of Ghanaian law. President Mahama said the ultimate measure of a strong judiciary was public confidence that cases would be decided independently, impartially and according to the law. He stressed that Supreme Court judges required more than legal expertise, identifying sound judgement, integrity, intellectual courage, patience and commitment to justice as essential qualities. According to him, the oath taken by the new justices represented a solemn obligation to the Ghanaian people rather than a ceremonial exercise. He urged them to protect constitutional rights, uphold the separation of powers and ensure that no person or institution was placed above the law. But beyond constitutional principles, Mr Mahama said the judiciary must confront practical…