On Thursday, February 20, 2020, Governor to Turks and Caicos Islands, Nigel Dakin, announced the appointment of the new Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Mabel Agyemang, and other judicial appointments.

He said ensuring there is a vibrant Judiciary that not only dispenses justice but provides balance to the Executive, is an essential element of democratic law-abiding society.

“I’m announcing today three new judicial appointments: the next Chief Justice, a second Judge and the appointment of a new Chief Magistrate for the Turks and Caicos Islands. Over the next month or so I’ll be announcing further judicial appointments linked to the Appeal Court.

“In keeping the public informed, let me start by saying something about the process as well as the result. In making judicial decisions the Governor is not alone. He has outstanding counsel. He makes his decision based on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission; a group of three very senior and experienced Judges,” he said.

Justice Agyemang has worked as a Superior Court Judge in three Commonwealth Jurisdictions. Currently, she is a Justice of the Court of Appeal in Ghana.

She is a product of the University of Ghana and the Ghana School of Law, she was in private legal practice from 1987 to 1991 when she joined the Judiciary of Ghana. In 2002, she was appointed a High Court Judge.

From 2004 to 2014 she was seconded to the Commonwealth Secretariat as an expert to the Judiciaries of The Gambia and Swaziland where she worked as a High Court Judge.

She was then appointed an expert Judge of The Gambia Court of Appeal. From 2013 to 2014 she was the Chief Justice of The Gambia. She took up her present role in 2015.

“It is worth saying something about her departure from her role in the Gambia. This is a badge of significant honour. She stood up to an autocrat – one of Africa’s most notorious strongmen – Yahya Jammeh – whose 22-year rule only ended in 2017. Through integrity and courage, she attempted to protect the Judiciary from an overarching executive," Governor Dakin said in a statement.