Ghanaian judicial and constitutional developments

In September 2026, legal and judicial developments occurred in Ghana involving the presidency and the Supreme Court.

A private citizen, Samuel Bryan Buabeng, filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court against President John Dramani Mahama. The suit alleges the unconstitutional composition of the Council of State due to a vacancy left by former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, who resigned from her ex-officio position in September 2025. Buabeng argues that the President is legally obligated to appoint a replacement and seeks a court order to compel consultation with Parliament and the subsequent appointment of a new former Chief Justice.

Separately, President Mahama swore in three new Supreme Court justices: Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Edward Amoako Asante, and Anthony Forson Jnr. During the ceremony at Jubilee House, the President described the oath of office as ‘consequential, not ceremonial’ and urged the appointees to uphold the 1992 Constitution and maintain judicial independence. He emphasized that judicial independence is a protection for citizens to ensure rights are determined fairly, rather than a privilege for judges, and noted that the authority of the Court rests on public trust.

President Mahama also highlighted the need for judicial efficiency, stating that delayed justice imposes hardship on citizens and urging the use of technology to improve accessibility. Speaking for the appointees, Justice Bernasko-Essah pledged they would discharge their duties with fairness, impartiality, and courage, treating the office as a ‘sacred public trust’.