Supreme Court of Ghana

The Supreme Court was established by the Supreme Court Ordinance (1876) as the highest tribunal in the Gold Coast (now Ghana) during the colonial era.[3] Appeals from the Supreme Court went to the West African Court of Appeals (WACA) established in 1866. Ghana withdrew from WACA following independence.[4] After the military coup d'état of February 24, 1966, the National Liberation Council (NLC), by the Courts Decree, 1966 (NLCD.84) abolished the Supreme Court and vested judicial power in two sets of courts: the Superior Court of Judicature and the inferior Courts.[5] This was reversed by Article 102(4) of the 1969 constitution establishing the second republic.[6] After the coup on January 13, 1972, the Supreme Court was again abolished by the National Redemption Council with the reason that the 1969 constitution had been suspended and so there was no need for a court to "interpret and enforce it". Its functions were transferred to the Court of Appeal.[4] This was again reverted by the 1979 constitution when the third republic was established on September 24, 1979.[7] The Supreme Court was left intact after the December 31, 1981 coup by the Provisional National Defence Council, though it made changes to the court system by introducing public tribunals.[7]

On July 2, 2013 the Supreme Court sentenced the editor-in-chief of the Daily Searchlight newspaper, Ken Kuranchie, to 10 days in prison for calling the 9 Justices hypocritical and selective.

Memorial to the Martyrs of the Rule of Law in front of the Supreme Court of Ghana buildings.

Aerial view of the Supreme Court building.

Front view of the Supreme Court building.

The 1992 constitution stipulates that the Supreme court is made up of the Chief Justice and not less than nine other Justices of the Supreme Court.[8] The Chief Justice is appointed by the President of Ghana acting in consultation with the Council of State and with the approval of the country's Parliament.[9] The other Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Judicial Council and in consultation with the Council of State. This must also be with the approval of Parliament.[10] The 1992 Constitution abolished all the public tribunals established under the PNDC and created the Regional Tribunal whose chairman was equated with the High Court judge.[7]

The following is a list of the judges of the Supreme Court.[11][12] In July 2018, President Nana Akufo-Addo appointed four new judges to the Supreme Court. They were Samuel K. Marful-Sau and Agnes M.A Dordzie, both Justices of the Appeal Court, Nii Ashie Kotey, a former Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ghana and Nene A. O. Amegatcher, a lawyer in private practice who also a former president of the Ghana Bar Association.[13] One of the longest serving judges of the Court, William Atuguba retired in the same month. He had been on the Supreme Court after being nominated by Jerry Rawlings in November 1995[14][15] until July 2018.[16] The last female Chief Justice was Sophia Akuffo. She was the last Supreme Court Judge appointed by Jerry Rawlings to retire. She retired on 20 December 2019 and was replaced by Kwasi Anin-Yeboah on 7 January 2020. In December 2019, President Akufo-Addo appointed three new judges to the Supreme Court. They were Mariama Owusu, Lovelace Johnson and Gertrude Tokornoo.[17] They are to replace Sophia Adinyira, Vida Akoto-Bamfo and Sophia Akuffo who have either retired or are due to retire.[18]

Some recently retired Supreme Court Judges[27]

• Julius Ansah (July 2004[28] - 2020)
• Sophia Akuffo[29] (Chief Justice of Ghana 2017-2019) - 30 November 1995 - 20 December 2019
• George Kingsley Acquah- (1995-2007)
• Francis Yaonasu Kpegah – (6 January 1993[30] – 2008) – Once the most senior Judge[31]
• Prof. Tawia Modibo Ocran – (2004–2008)
• Stephen Alan Brobbey - (2002-2012)
• Prof. Samuel Kofi Date-Bah – (2003-2013)[32]
• Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood – (12 November 2002 – June 2017) and Chief Justice between 15 June 2007[33] and June 2017.[34]
• Rose Constance Owusu – (since 11 June 2008[20] - August 2014[35]
• Joseph Bawa Akamba – (11 Nov 2012[36] to 2017)[37][38]
• William A. Atuguba (30 November 1995[14][15] - 1 July 2018)[16]
• Kweku Etrew Amua-Sekyi[39]
• Mrs Sophia Ophilia Adjeibea Adinyira (2006[40] – July 2019[41])
• Vida Akoto-Bamfo (October 2009[42] to February 2019[43])
• Alfred Anthony Benin (11 November 2012[36] - 2020[26]
• Nasiru Sulemana Gbadegbe (October 2009[42] — December 2020[44][45])

Since its inception in 1876, the Supreme Court has had 27 Chief Justices.[46]

• Judiciary of Ghana
• Chief Justice of Ghana
• General Legal Council

• Official Website of the Judicial Service of Ghana
• Ghana Constitution

• Parliament of Ghana Website
• GhanaReview.com