President Mahama Charges Judiciary to Embrace Reforms, Technology for Accessible Justice
President John Dramani Mahama has called on the Judiciary to pursue bold reforms that improve efficiency, embrace appropriate technology and make justice more accessible to all Ghanaians.
Speaking at the swearing-in of three new Justices of the Supreme Court at the Banquet Hall of the Presidency in Accra on Thursday, September 10, 2026, the President said public confidence in the Judiciary depends not only on the soundness of court decisions, but also on the conduct of judges, the accessibility of the courts and the timely delivery of justice.
President Mahama expressed concern over prolonged cases, avoidable adjournments and delays in delivering judgments, warning that such challenges weaken public confidence and can amount to a denial of justice.
“I therefore urge the judiciary to continue pursuing reforms that improve efficiency and embrace appropriate technology and make justice more accessible to all Ghanaians, regardless of their income, status or geographical location,” he said.
The President stressed that judicial independence is not a privilege for judges but a protection for citizens, ensuring that rights are determined fairly even in difficult, unpopular or politically sensitive cases. He said that independence must however be matched by accountability, discipline, and “extreme clarity” in judgments.
“The Supreme Court must also communicate its reasoning with extreme clarity, its decisions should provide dependable guidance to lower courts, to public institutions, legal practitioners and above all to citizens,” President Mahama noted. Clear and well-reasoned judgments, he added, strengthen the law and promote respect and trust in the judicial process.
The three new Justices sworn in after parliamentary approval are Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah and Justice Edward Amoako Asante, both elevated from the Court of Appeal, and Justice Anthony Forson Jnr, a private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association.
President Mahama said the trio brings complementary strengths to the apex court. He described Justice Bernasko Essah as an experienced judicial officer whose service would bring valuable experience to the Supreme Court, Justice Asante as bringing both national and regional experience from his tenure as President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice with expertise in regional integration, human rights and international law, and Justice Forson Jnr as bringing decades of private practice experience and an understanding of how legal decisions affect ordinary people.
He reminded the Justices that their oath is consequential, not ceremonial, and charged them to let the 1992 Constitution remain their compass.
“The oath you have taken today is consequential, not ceremonial. It is a solemn covenant with the people of Ghana. 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 said.
On behalf of her colleagues, Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah expressed gratitude to the President and pledged that they would hear cases fairly, decide according to law, and remain faithful to the Constitution.
“We are called not to bend the law to personal preference, but to interpret and apply it faithfully, impartially and courageously,” she said.
