Parliament Approves Three New Supreme Court Justices as Legal Heavyweights Join Apex Court
Parliament has approved three nominees to Ghana’s Supreme Court, paving the way for the country’s apex court to expand its bench from 18 to 21 justices.
The approval, which took place on Thursday, August 27, 2026, followed the vetting of President John Dramani Mahama’s nominees and their subsequent consideration by Parliament.
The three newly approved justices are Justice Edward Amoako Asante, Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah and Anthony Forson Jr. Their appointments bring considerable experience from Ghana’s judiciary and private legal practice to the Supreme Court.
Justice Edward Amoako Asante is perhaps the most internationally recognised of the three nominees. He is a former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, where he served three terms, completing six years as head of the regional court in October 2024.
Before his nomination to the Supreme Court, Justice Asante served on Ghana’s Court of Appeal. His career has included extensive work in public international law, human rights law, mediation and arbitration.
During his time as President of the ECOWAS Court, the institution strengthened its human rights jurisprudence through several significant decisions concerning civil and political rights.
Justice Asante also oversaw the introduction of an Electronic Case Management System at the regional court. The system enabled litigants to submit court documents electronically and facilitated virtual proceedings, helping to reduce litigation costs and improve access to justice.
His work at the ECOWAS Court also earned international recognition. In 2020, he received the Columbia University Global Freedom of Expression Award on behalf of the court.
Justice Asante was also appointed in October 2025 to the Advisory Committee of the United Nations Human Rights Council, an 18-member expert body that provides advice on human rights issues.
The second nominee, Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, is also a Justice of the Court of Appeal. Her nomination adds another experienced judicial figure to the Supreme Court.
She has built her career within Ghana’s legal and judicial system and brings appellate-level experience to the country’s highest court.
The third nominee, Anthony Forson Jr., comes from private legal practice and has also held a prominent leadership position within the legal profession. He is a former President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA).
His experience outside the judiciary is expected to add another dimension to the Supreme Court, particularly given his years of practice and involvement in the administration of the legal profession.
The appointments were made by President Mahama on the advice of the Judicial Council and in consultation with the Council of State, in accordance with Ghana’s constitutional process. The nominees were subsequently subjected to parliamentary scrutiny before the House approved them.
With Parliament’s approval, the number of justices on Ghana’s Supreme Court will rise from 18 to 21. The increase is expected to strengthen the court’s capacity to handle its workload, including constitutional, civil and criminal matters.
The appointments also come at a significant time for Ghana’s judiciary, with the Supreme Court continuing to play a central role in interpreting the Constitution and determining important legal questions.
The three nominees therefore enter the apex court with substantial professional experience. Justice Asante brings regional and international judicial experience, Justice Bernasko Essah brings years of service on the Court of Appeal, while Forson Jr. contributes extensive private legal practice and experience as a former leader of the Ghana Bar Association.
Their approval marks an important development in Ghana’s judicial system and sets the stage for their eventual assumption of duties on the Supreme Court bench.
The new justices are expected to contribute to the determination of cases before the apex court and help strengthen the capacity of the judiciary to deliver justice.
Source: Thepressradio.com
