By Bright Ntramah
President Akufo-Addo has sworn in 15 justices to the Appeals Court with a call to be transparent and efficient in the delivery of Justice in order to build confidence within the society. He noted that it is important to have judges who are honest, possess integrity and have sound knowledge of the law. A ceremony at the Jubilee House, the President asked the justices to be learned, know their cases, and ensure that their judgments are based on law.
The new Appeals Court Justices are Justice Alex Owusu-Ofori, Justice Emmanuel Ankamah, Justice Jerome Noble-Nkrumah, Justice Gifty Agyei Addo, and Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe. Others are Justice Samuel Obeng-Diawuo, Justice Hafisata Amaleboba, Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, Justice Jennifer Abena Dadzie, and Justice Charles Edward Ekow Baiden.
The rest are Justice Stephen Oppong, Patrick Kwamina Baiden, Christopher Archer, Professor Olivia Anku-Tsede, and Dr. Ernest Owusu-Dapaah. The President led the ten men and five women to take three oaths, after which they signed the oath book.
According to the President, the 15 justices have partiality of mind and independence of spirit and are thus fit for the position.
He told them to bear in mind that the growth of Ghana demands that there is a judiciary that commands respect of the people by the quality of its delivery of justice as well as by its comportment of its judges.
The President said the situation where judges proffer judgment on the basis of decisions from lower courts and cite them as law is not acceptable, and even less so, when judges cite no authority at all for their rulings and give orders without reasons. President Akufo-Addo, therefore, asked the justices to be learned, know their cases, and ”ensure that your judgments are based on law.
Responding to the President’s charges to the new judges, Her Ladyship Justice Afia Serwaa expressed profound gratitude to President Akufo Addo for the opportunity given to serve.
She thanked the Judicial Council for taking them through rigorous procedures before recommending them for appointments. He assured the President and Ghanaians that they shall continue to live up to the trust reposed in them.
The President later presented the instrument of appointments to the 15 new justices of the Appeals Court.
