ACCRA, Ghana, 10th September: President John Dramani Mahama has praised the diverse professional backgrounds of Ghana’s three newly sworn-in Supreme Court Justices, saying their complementary experiences will enrich the country’s highest court.
The three are Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, elevated from the Court of Appeal; Justice Edward Amoako Asante, also elevated from the Court of Appeal and a former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice; and Justice Tony Forson Jnr, a private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association.
Speaking at their swearing-in ceremony, President Mahama said the three Justices brought different perspectives that could deepen deliberations at the Supreme Court and contribute to the continued development of Ghanaian law.
He described Justice Bernasko Essah as an experienced judicial officer with extensive knowledge of the practical administration of justice.
According to him, her service at the Court of Appeal has exposed her to complex questions of law and the review of decisions from lower courts.
He said her experience would be valuable to the Supreme Court, particularly in strengthening the quality, clarity and consistency of its decisions.
On Justice Edward Amoako Asante, President Mahama highlighted his experience both within Ghana’s national judicial system and at the regional level.
He said his tenure as President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice exposed him to legal questions relating to regional integration, treaty obligations, human rights and the relationship between domestic and international law.
President Mahama said that experience would provide the Supreme Court with an important regional perspective at a time when legal questions increasingly crossed national boundaries.
For Justice Tony Forson Jnr, the President said his transition from private legal practice to the Bench would add another important dimension to the composition of the Supreme Court.
He noted that his decades of experience as a practitioner, as well as his leadership of the Ghana Bar Association, had given him first-hand knowledge of litigation and the challenges faced by citizens, businesses, public institutions and lawyers who rely on the courts.
President Mahama said the three Justices, taken together, represented a combination of extensive judicial experience, regional adjudication and practical knowledge of legal practice.
“These varied experiences should deepen the Court’s deliberations and contribute to the continued development of Ghanaian law,” he said.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭
