President John Dramani Mahama has sworn in 21 new Justices to the Court of Appeal at a colorful ceremony held at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday. The new appointees include 20 Justices of the High Court and one private legal practitioner, all of whom met the necessary requirements for elevation. The President administered the oath of allegiance, the Judicial oath, and the oath of secrecy to the newly robed judges, officially marking their transition to the appellate bench.
Addressing the new Justices, President Mahama urged them to deliver judgments that would inspire public confidence and avoid any perception of seeking to silence criticism. He stressed the importance of reassuring Ghanaians that, despite potential debates over outcomes, their integrity, impartiality, and fidelity to the national Constitution could never be doubted. He cautioned the judges to guard against cynicism—the belief that the courts serve only the powerful—and insisted that the courts must demonstrate that justice is not compromised by status, wealth, or political convenience.
President Mahama, describing the Court of Appeal as “the people’s court,” expressed pride in the new appointments, noting that nine of the twenty Justices elevated from the High Court were women, exceeding the 30 percent benchmark prescribed by the Affirmative Action Law. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Vice-President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, the acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, and various Justices, Ministers, and government officials.
The President concluded his remarks by stating that justice is central to the government’s transformation policy and called on the new Justices to be custodians of hope, guided by the virtues of courage, integrity, and humility.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
