President Mahama nominates 3 more Judges for Supreme Court
President John Dramani Mahama has nominated three additional persons for appointment to the Supreme Court, a move government says is aimed at strengthening the judiciary and clearing the backlog of cases.
The names were communicated to Parliament on Thursday through the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, in accordance with Article 144(2) of the 1992 Constitution. The President consulted the Council of State before making the nominations.
Who was nominated
The 3 nominees by President Mahama to the Supreme Court announced on Friday, 17 July 2026 are: Justice Sophia Bernasko-Essah – Court of Appeal Justice, Justice Amoako Asante – Court of Appeal Justice, and Tony Forson – Legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association. Their names have been submitted to Parliament in accordance with Article 144(2) of the 1992 Constitution.
The next step is vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee before final approval and swearing-in. They are respected jurists from the Court of Appeal and academia with extensive experience in constitutional, commercial, and human rights law. The nominations bring the total number of new Supreme Court appointments proposed by the Mahama administration this year to 7.
Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the appointments are necessary because the Supreme Court’s workload has increased significantly. “With more election petitions, constitutional interpretations, and commercial disputes reaching the apex court, we need to expand the bench to ensure timely delivery of justice,” he stated.
Parliamentary process
The nominees will now appear before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for vetting. The Minority has indicated it will scrutinize the nominees thoroughly. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said: “We support a strong judiciary, but we must also ensure that appointments are based on competence, independence, and integrity, not political considerations.”
The Majority, however, says the process should be expedited. “Ghanaians are waiting too long for justice. These judges are needed in court, not in endless vetting,” said Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga.
Context and public reaction
The Supreme Court currently has 13 justices. If all 3 nominees are approved, the bench will rise to 16. Legal experts say a larger bench can help the court sit in multiple panels and reduce delays.
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