Google search engine

President John Mahama has sworn in 18 justices of the Appeals Court in Accra.

The ceremony took place at the Jubilee House on October 2,2025.

The newly sworn in Appeals Court justices are as follows:

  1. Justice Justin Kofi Dorgu
  2. Justice Daniel Mensah
  3. Justice George Buadi
  4. Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu
  5. Justice John Bosco Nabarese
  6. Justice Jennifer Anne Myers Ahmed
  7. Justice Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah
  8. Justice Dr. Richmond Osei-Hwere
  9. Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga
  10. Justice Ali Baba Abature Justice Abena Asuamah Oppong
  11. Justice Mariama Sammo
  12. Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh
  13. Justice Ayitey Armah-Tetteh Justice Charity Akosua Asem
  14. Justice Enyonam Adinyira
  15. Justice Sheila Minta
  16. Justice Douglas Seidu
  17. Justice Charles Adjei Wilson
  18. Mrs. Franklina Gesila Adanu

President Mahama charged the judges to use their newly assumed position judiciously.

“…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.

In recent times, our courts have not escaped criticism.Citizens have openly and sometimes harshly questioned judicial decisions.And I want to say clearly, criticism of judgments is not the end of hope.It is the evidence of hope,” the President said.

“It shows that Ghanaians still believe in the courts, that justice still matters, and that verdicts have meaning in their lives. What we have to guard against is cynicism.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.So, to you, our new justices, I say, let your judgments not serve as criticism, but inspire confidence in our people.Let your judgments reassure Ghanaians that while we may repeat outcomes, we can never doubt your integrity, your impartiality, and your fidelity to the national constitution,” he added.

President Mahama further noted the role of the judiciary in his reset agenda.

“Our recent agenda is not only about rebuilding infrastructure and expanding the economy. It is also about fostering a more inclusive society. It is also about renewing our institutions, restoring the faith of our people in the pillars of our democracy.

A judiciary that delivers swift, fair, and transparent justice is a cornerstone of this reset that we talk about. And that is why the NDC’s 2024 manifesto commits us to reforms that will make justice more efficient and accessible to our people. The first is digitizing the courts so that adjournments and delays no longer frustrate ordinary citizens,” he said.

According to him, “The second is creating specialized divisions at the High Court and Court of Appeal to handle land disputes, commercial cases, and labor matters which too often drag on for many years. Introducing time-bound case management systems to ensure that justice delayed is no longer justice denied. Expanding legal and aid services to ensure that justice is not for the privileged or the wealthy, but the right of every Ghanaian.

Strengthening judicial ethics and accountability so that misconduct and corruption find no place within our courts. These are not abstract promises. They are concrete steps that will make justice not only more credible, but also more hopeful.”

President Mahama underscored the fact that “justice is not separate from development. 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 values are held in doubt. And that is why the renewal of our courts is at the heart of our economic transformation. Our 24-hour economy, our big push infrastructure program, and our broader vision of shared prosperity.” 

 
He noted that, “Justice is not a luxury. It is a foundation for all needs. I ask you to carry these three virtues. The first is courage. The second is integrity. And the third is humility. Courage to resist pressure, whether political or financial. 
President Mahama urged them to have the courage to resist pressure, whether political or financial. 
“And to uphold the law even when it is unpopular. Integrity to ensure that justice cannot be bought, delayed, or bent by influence. Humility to remember that power is given not to rule over the people, but to serve the people. History remembers not those who followed the path of least resistance, but those who stood firmly for principle when it mattered most,” he noted.
The President said they should represent hope for Ghanaians.
“At this moment in our national journey, Ghanaians need reason to hold on to hope. They need to believe again that the courts are not distant temples of law but living guardians of fairness. Every decision you make can rekindle that belief.  Every ruling you make can remind citizens that Ghana is still a land where truth prevails and justice is not for sale,” he indicated.

“I ask you therefore to be not only arbiters of law, but also custodians of hope, carrying with you the solemn truth that justice is the most powerful promise of our democracy, and that through your service, this promise would endure. If you do this, then long after you have left the bench, your names will not be merely recorded in law reports, they will be remembered in the hearts of Ghanaians as justices who renewed our faith in our republic. As you take your oaths today, know that you swear not only before me, as President, not only before the Chief Justice, but before God, before history, and before the people whose lives you will touch with your judgments,” he urged.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR