President John Mahama has delivered a stirring charge to the newly appointed Supreme Court Justices, urging them to wear the robe of office not as a symbol of power but as a solemn trust reposed in them by the people of Ghana.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of seven new Justices at the Jubilee House on Thursday, July 3, President Mahama reminded the judges that their new status carries with it the hopes of a nation seeking fairness, inclusion, and justice for all.

“To our newly sworn-in justices, I say this: today, you inherit the robe of honour and the weight of a nation's expectations. This robe is not simply a mark of office. It is a public trust. It is a symbol of service, humility and accountability. Wear it with wisdom,” he said.

The President called on the Justices to interpret the law with depth, empathy, and relevance, taking into account the lived realities of Ghanaians.

He stated that their legacy would not just be written in legal volumes, but in the lives impacted and trust upheld.

“Interpret the law not just as it is but as it ought to be, alive to context and sensitive to the lived realities of the Ghanaian people,” President Mahama stressed.

“Speak through your judgments, not your opinions. Show leadership through principle, not preference. Let your legacy be measured in volumes of law reports, the lives you touched, the precedents you set, and the public trust that you preserved.”

• Read also: Serve as stewards of justice, not arbiters of technicalities – Mahama charges new SC Justices

Reaffirming his government’s commitment to justice reforms under the "reset agenda," President Mahama outlined a vision for a more accessible and efficient judicial system.

“In our reset Republic, 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,” he stated.

Among the reforms expected are improvements to court infrastructure, expanded legal aid and public defender services, enhanced judicial training, and digitised court processes aimed at reducing delays.

He also referenced the ongoing work of the Constitutional Review Committee chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, expected to submit its report in August, expressing hope that their recommendations will strengthen the justice system even further.

The swearing-in ceremony marks the latest in a series of judicial reforms under the Mahama administration, which has emphasised rebuilding trust in public institutions and strengthening the rule of law in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

The seven newly confirmed Justices, whose appointments follow rigorous parliamentary approval and vetting processes earlier this year, are:

1. Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei
2. Justice Gbiel Simon Suurbaareh
3. Justice Senyo Dzamefe
4. Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo
5. Justice Philip Bright Mensah
6. Justice Janapare Bartels-Kodwo
7. Justice Hafisata Amaleboba