Supreme Court of Ghana
Encyclopedia
The Supreme Court of Ghana is the highest judicial body in Ghana
. Ghana's 1992 constitution guarantees the independence and separation of the Judiciary
from the Legislative and the Executive
arms of government.
was established by the Supreme Court Ordinance (1876) as the highest tribunal in the Gold Coast
(now Ghana) during the colonial era. Appeals from the Supreme Court went to the West African Court of Appeals (WACA) established in 1866. Ghana withdrew from WACA following independence. After the military coup d'état of February 24, 1966, the National Liberation Council
(NLC), by the Courts Decree, 1966 (NLCD.84) abolished the Supreme Court and vested judicial power in two sets of courts: the Superior Court of Judicature and the inferior Courts. This was reversed by Article 102(4) of the 1969 constitution establishing the second republic. After the coup on January 13, 1972, the Supreme Court was again abolished by the National Redemption Council
with the reason that the 1969 constitution had been suspended and so there was no need for a court to "interpret and enforce it". Its functions were transferred to the Court of Appeal. This was again reverted by the 1979 constitution when the third republic was established on September 24, 1979. The Supreme Court was left intact after the December 31, 1981 coup by the Provisional National Defence Council
, though it made changes to the court system by introducing public tribunals.
acting in consultation with the Council of State
and with the approval of the country's Parliament
. The other Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Judicial Council and in consultation with the Council of State. This must also be with the approval of Parliament. The 1992 Constitution abolished all the public tribunals established under the PNDC and created the Regional Tribunal whose chairman was equated with the High Court judge.
Former Supreme Court Judges
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. Ghana's 1992 constitution guarantees the independence and separation of the Judiciary
Judiciary of Ghana
The Judiciary of Ghana comprises the Superior Courts of Judicature, established under the 1992 Constitution, and the Inferior Courts, established by Parliament. The hierarchy of courts derives largely from British juridical forms...
from the Legislative and the Executive
Executive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
arms of government.
History
The Supreme CourtSupreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
was established by the Supreme Court Ordinance (1876) as the highest tribunal in the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
(now Ghana) during the colonial era. Appeals from the Supreme Court went to the West African Court of Appeals (WACA) established in 1866. Ghana withdrew from WACA following independence. After the military coup d'état of February 24, 1966, the National Liberation Council
National Liberation Council
The National Liberation Council was the name of the Ghanaian government after the elected government of the Convention Peoples' Party led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown on February 24, 1966. This government was in place till they handed over to a democratically elected government on October...
(NLC), by the Courts Decree, 1966 (NLCD.84) abolished the Supreme Court and vested judicial power in two sets of courts: the Superior Court of Judicature and the inferior Courts. This was reversed by Article 102(4) of the 1969 constitution establishing the second republic. After the coup on January 13, 1972, the Supreme Court was again abolished by the National Redemption Council
National Redemption Council
The National Redemption Council was the ruling Ghana military government in from January 13, 1972 to October 9, 1975. Its chairman was Colonel I.K. Acheampong. He was also the Head of state of Ghana due to his chairmanship.-Duration of rule:...
with the reason that the 1969 constitution had been suspended and so there was no need for a court to "interpret and enforce it". Its functions were transferred to the Court of Appeal. This was again reverted by the 1979 constitution when the third republic was established on September 24, 1979. The Supreme Court was left intact after the December 31, 1981 coup by the Provisional National Defence Council
Provisional National Defence Council
The Provisional National Defence Council was the name of the Ghanaian government after the People's National Party's elected government was overthrown by Jerry Rawlings, the former head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council. This was on December 31, 1981. It remained in power until January 7,...
, though it made changes to the court system by introducing public tribunals.
Current status
The 1992 constitution stipulates that the Supreme court is made up of the Chief Justice and not less than nine other Justices of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice is appointed by the President of GhanaPresident of Ghana
The President of Ghana is the elected head of state and head of government of Ghana. Officially styled President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghanaian Armed Forces. The current President of Ghana is Prof. John Atta Mills, who took office in January...
acting in consultation with the Council of State
Council of State (Ghana)
The Council of State in Ghana is a small body of prominent citizens, analogous to the Council of Elders in the traditional political system, which advises the President on national issues....
and with the approval of the country's Parliament
Parliament of Ghana
The Parliament of Ghana is the legislative body of the Ghanaian government.-History:Legislative representation in Ghana dates back to 1850, when the country was a British colony. The body, called the Legislative Council, was purely advisory as the Governor exercised all legislative and executive...
. The other Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Judicial Council and in consultation with the Council of State. This must also be with the approval of Parliament. The 1992 Constitution abolished all the public tribunals established under the PNDC and created the Regional Tribunal whose chairman was equated with the High Court judge.
Justices of the Supreme Court
The following is a list of the judges of the Supreme Court in order of seniority.- Mrs Georgina Theodora WoodGeorgina Theodora WoodGeorgina Theodora Wood is a judge and also a former police prosecution officer. She is the Chief Justice of Ghana and the first woman to occupy that position.-Early life and education:...
- Chief Justice since June 15, 2007 - William A. Atuguba
- Ms. Sophia A. B. Akuffo
- Theodore Kwami Adzoe (since Nov. 2000)
- Stephen Alan Brobbey
- Dr Seth Twum
- Prof. Samuel Kofi Date-Bah
- Julius Ansah
- Richard Twum Aninakwah
- Mrs Sophia Ophilia Adjeibea Adinyira – (since 2006)
- Samuel Kwadwo Asiamah – (since 2006)
- Rose Constance Owusu– (since 11 June, 2008)
- Jones Mawulom Dotse– (since June, 2008)
- Anin Yeboah– (since June, 2008)
- Paul Baffoe-Bonnie– (since June, 2008)
Former Supreme Court Judges
- K. Adjabeng
- A. K. Ampiah
- Samuel Glenn Baddoo
- Joyce Bamford Addo
- Charles Hayfron-Benjamin (deceased)
- George Lamptey
- Felix Michael Lartey
- Francois Yaonansu Kpegah - (since January 6, 1993) - Most senior Judge
- Prof. Tawia Modibo Ocran – (2004-2008)
List of Chief Justices of the Supreme Court
Since its inception in 1876, the Supreme Court has had 23 Chief Justices.| List of Chief Justices of the Gold Coast and Ghana | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice | Time frame | Period |
| Sir David Patrick Chambers | 1876 - 1878 | Gold Coast |
| P. A. Smith | 1878 - 1879 | Gold Coast |
| Sir James Marshall | 1880 - 1882 | Gold Coast |
| N. Lessingham Bailey | 1882 - 1886 | Gold Coast |
| H. W Macleod | 1886 - 1889 | Gold Coast |
| J. T Hutchinson | 1889 - 1895 | Gold Coast |
| Sir William Brandford Griffith William Brandford Griffith (judge) Sir William Brandford Griffith was a British legal writer and colonial judge, Chief Justice of the Gold Coast from 1895 to 1911.William Brandford Griffith was the eldest son of William Brandford Griffith, Governor of the Gold Coast from 1885 to 1895. He was educated at London University,... |
1895 - 1911 | Gold Coast |
| Philip Crampton Smyly Philip Crampton Smyly Philip Crampton Smyly may refer to:*Sir Philip Crampton Smyly , chief justice of Ghana*Sir Philip Crampton Smyly , surgeon, laryngologist and honorary physician to Queen Victoria... |
1911 - 1928 | Gold Coast |
| Sir George Campbell Deane | 1929 - 1935 | Gold Coast |
| Sir Philip Bertie Petrides | 1936 - 1943 | Gold Coast |
| Sir Walter Harrangin | 1943 - 1947 | Gold Coast |
| Sir Mark Wilson | 1948 - 1956 | Gold Coast |
| Sir Kobina Arku Korsah Kobina Arku Korsah Sir Kobina Arku Korsah was the first black Chief Justice of Ghana in 1956.Arku Korsah was educated at Mfantsipim School, Fourah Bay College, Durham University and London University... |
1956 - 1963 | Gold Coast (1956 - 6 Mar 1957) Ghana - 1st Republic (6 Mar 1957 - 1963) |
| J. Sarkodee-Addo J. Sarkodee-Addo Justice J. Sarkodee-Addo was the second Chief Justice of Ghana during the First Republic.He was educated at King's College London, admitted to Inner Temple in 1928, and called to the Bar in 1932. He replaced the first native Ghanaian chief justice, Sir Kobina Arku Korsah in 1964... |
1964 - 1966 | 1st Republic |
| Edward Akufo-Addo Edward Akufo-Addo Edward Akufo-Addo was a politician and lawyer in Ghana. He was one of the Big Six in the fight for Ghana's independence. He also became the Chief Justice and later President of the Republic of Ghana.-Education:... |
1966 - 1970 | military rule (1966-1969) 2nd Republic (1969-1970) |
| Edmund Alexander Lanquaye Bannerman Edmund Alexander Lanquaye Bannerman Edmund Alexander Lanquaye Bannerman was the Chief Justice of Ghana between 1970 and 1972. He was the fourth person to hold this position since Ghana became an independent nation... |
1970 -1972 | 2nd Republic |
| Samuel Azu Crabbe Samuel Azu Crabbe Samuel Azu Crabbe was a barrister, solicitor and jurist. He was the fifth Chief Justice of Ghana since it became an independent nation... |
1973 - 1977 | military rule |
| Fred Kwasi Apaloo Fred Kwasi Apaloo Frederick Kwasi Apaloo was a Ghanaian barrister who has served as Chief Justice of both Ghana and later Kenya.-Early life:... |
1977 - 1986 | military rule (1977-1979) 3rd Republic (24 Sep 1979-31 Dec 1981) # military rule (31 Dec 1981-1986) |
| E. N. P. Sowah E. N. P. Sowah -Career:He presided over the case brought by Amaoako Tuffuor, a Ghanaian citizen, when the People's National Party government of Hilla Limann attempted to replace Justice Fred Kwasi Apaloo as the Chief Justice of Ghana by vetting him... |
1986 - 1990 | military rule |
| Philip Edward Archer Philip Edward Archer Philip Edward Archer was the Chief Justice of Ghana between 1991 and 1995. He was the eighth person to hold this position since Ghana became an independent nation.-Life:... |
1991 - 1995 | military rule (1991-1993) 4th Republic (1993-1995) |
| Isaac Kobina Abban Isaac Kobina Abban Isaac Kobina Donkor Abban was the Chief Justice of Ghana between 1995 and 2001. He was the ninth person to hold this position since Ghana became an independent nation.-Electoral Commissioner:Justice Abban was called to the bar on 18 April 1959... |
1995 - April 21, 2001 | 4th Republic |
| Edward Kwame Wiredu Edward Kwame Wiredu Edward Kwame Wiredu was the Chief Justice of Ghana between 2001 and 2003. He was the tenth since Ghana became an independent nation... |
2001 - 2003 | 4th Republic |
| George Kingsley Acquah George Kingsley Acquah Justice George Kingsley Acquah was the twenty-third Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana. He was appointed as Chief Justice on 4 July 2003 and was the incumbent until his death... |
July 4, 2003 - March 25, 2007 | 4th Republic |
| Georgina Theodora Wood Georgina Theodora Wood Georgina Theodora Wood is a judge and also a former police prosecution officer. She is the Chief Justice of Ghana and the first woman to occupy that position.-Early life and education:... |
June 15, 2007 - | 4th Republic |