President John Dramani Mahama has sworn in three Justices of the Supreme Court.
They are Justice Sophia Rosetta Oduokouan Bernasko-Essah and Justice Edward Amoako Asante, who were Appeal Court Judges, as well as Justice Anthony Forson Jnr, who until his appointment was a private legal practitioner and a former President of the Ghana Bar Association.
The ceremony took place at the Banquet Hall of the Jubilee House in Accra on Thursday (September 10, 2026).
Call to duty
President Mahama said: "The authority of the court does not rest on force or political power. It rests on the confidence and trust of the people."
He expressed confidence that every matter brought before the court would be determined independently, impartially, and strictly according to the law.
The President said people appointed to the Supreme Court must not only possess legal knowledge, but must demonstrate sound judgment, personal integrity, intellectual courage, patience and a deep commitment to justice.
"The oath you have taken today is consequential, not ceremonial. It requires you to administer justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will, and to defend the Constitution of Ghana at all times," President Mahama added.
Justice Bernasko-Essah
The President described Justice Bernasko-Essah as someone who would bring extensive judicial experience and a well-grounded understanding of the practical administration of justice to the Supreme Court.
Her service on the Court of Appeal, he added, would allow her to address complex questions of law, review the work of lower courts and contribute to the development of the nation's jurisprudence.
She was first nominated to the Supreme Court in 2024 by former President Akufo-Addo but the process was not completed before the change in government.
"Your elevation recognises the competence, discipline and dedication you have demonstrated throughout your judicial career.
It also places upon you an even greater responsibility to help strengthen the quality, clarity and consistency of the Supreme Court's decisions," the President said.
Justice Asante
Justice Asante, a former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, was praised for bringing considerable judicial and regional experience to the court.
His work at the ECOWAS Court, President Mahama observed, exposed him to legal questions extending beyond national boundaries, particularly issues concerning regional integration, treaty obligations, human rights and the relationship between domestic and international law.
"At a time when legal questions increasingly cross national boundaries, your understanding of both Ghanaian jurisprudence and regional legal frameworks will enrich our Supreme Court's deliberations," he said.
Justice Anthony Forson Jnr.
Justice Forson joins the Supreme Court from private legal practice, bringing what the President described as another important dimension to the court's composition.
"Your transition from the Bar to the Bench is significant.
The advocate advances a client's case, but the judge must rise above every competing interest and decide solely on the law, the evidence and the dictates of justice," President Mahama said.
"Together, these varied experiences should deepen the court's deliberations and contribute to the continued development of Ghanaian law," he said.
