President John Mahama has urged Ghana’s judiciary to align the interpretation of the law with the needs and realities of ordinary citizens.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of seven new Supreme Court Justices at the Jubilee House on Thursday, July 3, President Mahama stated that Ghanaians now look beyond the executive and expect the judiciary to demonstrate that justice in Ghana is still fair and accessible.
“We live in an era of profound national reflection. Ghanaians are looking not only to the executive for leadership, but also to the judiciary for assurance that the laws of this land still work for all of us, that there is fairness and equality before the law and that justice is not denied by undue delay,” he said.
He acknowledged rising public scrutiny of democratic institutions and warned that a decline in public confidence must be addressed urgently.
“In recent years, our judiciary, like many of our democratic institutions, have come under public scrutiny. The erosion of public trust in our state institutions reflects a crisis of confidence that must be addressed with truth and urgency,” he added.
Despite these concerns, the President said the moment presents a valuable chance to renew public trust in the legal system and strengthen its independence.
“However, this moment also presents us with an opportunity, a chance to begin again, to reaffirm the judiciary’s independence, to rebuild this reputation and to restore the people’s faith in the rule of law.”
President Mahama tied this vision to his broader “Ghana Reset Agenda,” describing it as a national renewal rooted in justice and institutional reform.
“This is the essence of the Ghana Reset Agenda a national renewal grounded in justice, equity, transparency and institutional reform,” he said.
“A reformed and revitalised Ghana must rest on the firm foundation of a credible, independent and efficient justice system.”
In his vision for the country, the judiciary is not a passive institution but an active participant in shaping society.
“In our Ghana we want to vision, the judiciary is not a passive bystander in nation building. It is an active guarantor of rights, an enabler of development and a check on the excesses of power.”
“The judiciary must not only speak the language of the law, it must understand the heartbeat of the nation,” the President said.
He emphasised the need for the justice system to be more accessible to ordinary Ghanaians, especially low-income earners, women, children and marginalised groups.
“It must be led to the needs of low income individuals, mindful of the struggles faced by our women and children and sensitive to the anxieties of our citizens who feel excluded and unheard.”
He added that in the Ghana Reset Republic, justice must not be reserved for the privileged few.
“Access to justice must not depend on status or wealth. It must not be the privilege of a few, but it must be the right of all citizens.”
As part of this vision, President Mahama promised a number of judicial reforms. These include modernising court processes, improving infrastructure, expanding legal aid, and boosting ethical standards and collaboration in the justice sector.
“That is why, under the Reset Agenda, we will pursue key reforms to digitalise and modernise the court’s processes, to reduce delays, to improve court infrastructure and working conditions across the country, to expand Legal Aid and Public Defender Services, to strengthen judicial training and ethics, and to deepen collaboration between the bench, the bar and the broader civic space.”
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