President John Dramani Mahama has sworn in seven new Justices of the Supreme Court, following their recent parliamentary approval.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Jubilee House on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
The appointments, made in line with Article 144 of the 1992 Constitution, followed the established processes, including advice from the Judicial Council, consultation with the Council of State, and vetting and approval by Parliament.
However, the appointments were not without controversy.
The Minority in Parliament raised concerns about the nomination process, citing what they described as a lack of transparency and unresolved issues during the Appointments Committee’s proceedings.
Despite the objections, the nominees were approved through a majority decision after a heated debate in Parliament.
During the ceremony, President Mahama urged the newly inducted Justices to uphold the principles of fairness, impartiality, and integrity in the delivery of justice.
He emphasized that their appointment comes at a crucial time, as the judiciary prepares to handle sensitive constitutional and electoral matters.
The newly sworn-in Justices are:
- Justice Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh
- Justice Senyo Dzamefe
- Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei
- Justice Philip Bright Mensah
- Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo
- Justice Hafisata Amaleboba
- Justice Janapare Bartels-Kodwo
The Minority, led by Ranking Member on the Appointments Committee, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, had earlier objected to the process, accusing the Committee’s leadership of rushing the report to the floor without adequately addressing concerns raised during vetting.
However, Committee Chairman Bernard Ahiafor defended the process, stating that all issues had been thoroughly documented and addressed in the final report.
While the Majority hailed the appointments as critical to boosting the judiciary’s capacity, the Minority maintained that concerns over transparency and due process remain unresolved.
The appointments are expected to strengthen the Supreme Court as it prepares to deal with complex legal matters, particularly those with national implications.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
