President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to upholding judicial independence, describing it as a critical partner in Ghana’s nation-building process, not a threat to executive authority.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of seven new Supreme Court Justices in Accra on Thursday, July 3, President Mahama said the judiciary must function as an “active guarantor of rights, an enabler of development, and a check on the excesses of power.”
“An independent judiciary is not a threat to government. It is a partner in nation building,” he stressed. “We need justices who are not swayed by popularity or pressure, but are anchored in the Constitution and driven by a genuine desire to uphold justice without fear or favour.”
The President said the new appointments reflect a moment of renewal and reset for Ghana’s democracy, urging the justices to uphold the highest ideals of the law; fairness, impartiality, integrity, and courage.
“You are called not merely to interpret the law, but to embody its highest ideals… You are expected to serve not as arbiters of technicalities, but as stewards of justice and conscience,” Mahama said.
While acknowledging the challenges facing Ghana’s judiciary, including public scrutiny and waning trust, President Mahama called for urgent action to restore confidence in the justice system. He pledged reforms under his administration’s “Ghana Reset Agenda” to modernise court processes, improve infrastructure, expand legal aid, and strengthen judicial ethics.
“This is the essence of the Ghana Reset Agenda; a national renewal grounded in justice, equity, transparency, and institutional reform,” he stated.
President Mahama also emphasised the importance of making justice accessible to all, regardless of social or economic status. “Access to justice must not depend on status or wealth. It must not be the privilege of a few, but the right of all citizens,” he said.
To the newly appointed justices, the President said: “This robe is not simply a mark of office. It is a public trust… 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.”
The President concluded his address by reminding the judiciary of its unique role in preserving Ghana’s democracy. “Where the judiciary is strong, society is stable. Where the judiciary is impartial, citizens feel secure. And where the judiciary is respected, democracy flourishes,” he said.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Risa Wyettey Cofie
