Her Ladyship Rita Agyeman-Budu to be buried today
Ghana’s judicial community and other stakeholders will gather today to bid farewell to Her Ladyship, Justice Rita Agyeman-Budu, with a memorial and burial service to be held at the United Church, Teshie-Nungua Estate.
Last Wednesday, members of the legal fraternity and friends held a special memorial in honour of a colleague who carved a distinguished career, rising through the ranks from administration to the Bar and, ultimately, to the Bench.
Profile
Born on September 19, 1960, in Kumasi, Justice Agyeman-Budu’s life story reflects a remarkable journey of perseverance, academic achievement and dedicated public service.
She began her career as a journalist and social entrepreneur before rising to become one of Ghana’s distinguished judges, noted especially for her pioneering work in gender-based violence courts in both Accra and Kumasi.
Her ascension within the legal fraternity began upon joining the Ghana Bench as a Magistrate in 2009, following a notable 10-year tenure with the Judicial Service of Ghana that saw her rise to Chief Registrar.
Her commitment and dedication to the judiciary led to her advancement to the role of Circuit Court Judge in 2011, and she was elevated to serve as a High Court Judge in 2016.
She served with what colleagues described as “dignity, firmness, and compassion,” and made significant contributions to judicial reforms and staff disciplinary committees.
Justice Agyeman-Budu was also a respected figure internationally.
Rising through the ranks of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) from Assistant Secretary to President of the Ghana Chapter, she helped shape national and continental conversations on justice for women and girls.
She was also the writer behind the 2014 drama
“A Call for Justice,” later adapted into a film broadcast on national television.
Her academic laurels include a Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) in Transnational Legal Practice, with a focus on International Criminal Law from St. John’s University Law School in New York.
Additionally, she possesses a Qualifying Certificate of Law (QCL) from the Ghana School of Law, fortified by a Barrister at Law Degree, B.L.
She is survived by her husband, Kwame Agyeman-Budu and children.
