A Justice of the Supreme Court, Yonny Kulendi, has cautioned lawyers and judicial officers against seeking appointments to the bench for financial gain, stressing that judging is a call to service, not a path to personal enrichment.

He warned that individuals who pursue judicial positions with the intention of accumulating wealth risk compromising the integrity and independence of the judiciary.

Justice Kulendi explained that the role of a judge requires dedication to justice, national service and accountability, rather than the pursuit of material gains.

“If you’re looking for pecuniary fortunes, that’s not the place. Unless you want to become a transactional judge. But if you’re looking for genuine service to God and country, that is the place,” he said.

He made the comments in response to a question on whether becoming a judge should be considered an aspiration for every lawyer who gets the opportunity to serve on the bench.

According to him, the decision to accept judicial office should be guided by an individual’s values, principles and priorities.

“It depends on an individual’s value system and what you prioritise,” he said.

Justice Kulendi further emphasised that a strong and independent judiciary remains critical to building a fair and stable society, describing the opportunity to serve as a judge as a profound responsibility.

“An unjust society is not a society worth living in. And to have the privilege to serve in that capacity as a judge, for me, is humbling,” he stated.

He noted that judicial office should be approached with humility and a strong sense of duty, as judges are expected to be guided by their conscience, the law and the oath they take to uphold justice.

Justice Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi made the remarks during an interview on Citi FM on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, as part of activities marking the 150th anniversary of the Supreme Court of Ghana.

He has served as a Justice of the Supreme Court since his appointment to the bench in May 2020.