President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday swore into office seven new Justices of the Supreme Court of Ghana.
They are Justice Senyo Dzamefe, Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, Justice Philip Bright Mensah, Justice Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh, Justice Janpere Bartels-Kodwo, Justice Hafisata Ameleboba and Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackah-Boafo.
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All seven Justices prior to their elevation to the Supreme Court by President Mahama were Court of Appeal Judges.
President Mahama, in his remarks, said the Supreme Court of Ghana stood as a final custodian of the nation’s laws, the guardian of its democracy and the protector of the rights and liberties of all citizens.
He said it was to this court that people turn when their freedoms were threatened, when justice seemed distant, or when the complexities of modern governance tested the constitution.
“As justices of this noble institution, you are called not merely to interpret the law, but to embody its highest ideals, which are fairness, impartiality, integrity, and courage,” the President said.
“You are expected to serve not as arbiters of technicalities, but as stewards of justice and conscience. Yours is not only a legal role, but a moral responsibility to safeguard our constitution’s spirit and interpret it in ways that advance the common good and protect the most vulnerable in our society.”
He said Ghanaians were living in an era of profound national reflection; and that they were looking not only to the executive for leadership, but also to the judiciary for assurance that the laws of the land still worked for all Ghanaians, which is fairness and equality before the law, and that justice was not denied by undue delay.
The President noted that in recent years, the nation’s judiciary, like many of democratic institutions, had come under public scrutiny.
He said the erosion of public trust in state institutions reflected a crisis of confidence that must be addressed with truth and urgency.
However, he said the moment also presented Ghanaians with an opportunity, a chance to begin again, to reaffirm the judiciary’s independence, to rebuild its reputation, and to restore the people’s faith in the rule of law.
This, the President said, was the essence of the Ghana Reset Agenda, a national renewal grounded in justice, equity, transparency, and institutional reform.
He said a reformed and revitalized Ghana must rest on the firm foundation of a credible, independent, and efficient justice system.
“In our Ghana We Want vision, the judiciary is not a passive bystander in nation building,” he said.
“It is an active guarantor of rights, an enabler of development, and a check on the excesses of power.”
President Mahama said the judiciary must not only speak the language of the law, it must understand the heartbeat of the nation.
He said the Judiciary must be alert to the needs of low income individuals, mindful of the struggles faced by women and children, and sensitive to the anxieties of citizens who feel excluded, unheard, or unseen.
He reiterated that justice must not be the privilege of a few, but it must be the rights of all citizens.
This, he said was why under the Reset Agenda, they would pursue key reforms to digitalize and modernize the court’s processes to reduce delays, to improve court infrastructure and working conditions across the country, to expand legal aid and public defender services, to strengthen judicial training and ethics, and to deepen collaboration between the bench, the bar, and the broader civic space.
“To our newly sworn Justices, I say this, today you inherit the robe of honour and the weight of a nation’s expectations,” the President said.
“This robe is not simply a mark of office, it is a public trust. It is a symbol of service, humility, and accountability. Wear it with wisdom.
“Interpret the law not just as it is, but as it ought to be, alive to context and sensitive to the lived realities of the Ghanaian people.”
He urged them to speak through their judgments, not their opinions, and to show leadership through principle, not preference.
“Let your legacy be measured in volumes of law reports, the lives you touched, the precedents you set, and the public trust that you preserved.”
Mr Justice Senyo Dzamefe, on behalf of his colleagues, expressed gratitude to President Mahama for appointing them as Justices of the Supreme Court as per Article 144(2) of the Constitution of Ghana.
He said they would deliver Justice to all manner of persons without fear or favour.
The event, which took place at the Presidency in Accra was witnessed by Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and the Acting Chief Justice, Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
Others were Mr Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho, Chairman of the Council of State and Mr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.
Also present were members of the General Legal Council, Justices of the Supreme Court, members of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana and members of the Ghana Bar Association.
