You must be sober in your ruling; Mahama tells new Appeals Court judges

President John Mahama has sworn in five new Court of Appeal judges, charging them to dispense justice in fairness to all people and soberly uphold the rule of law in the discharge of their duties.

The judges are Justice L.L. Mensah, Justice Henry Kwofie and Justice Mabel Agyemang.

The rest are SADA Board chair Justice Angelina Domakyaareh and Justice G.S. Suurbaareh.

At a brief ceremony at the Flagstaff House Wednesday, Mr. Mahama urged the judges to ensure fairness to all in their adjudication of disputes.

“You have a huge responsibility of maintaining and preserving justice in our society,” President Mahama told the newly appointed Court of Appeal judges. He said they are required to be “sober in terms of temperament and in terms of delivering of justice”.

As judges, the president reminded them that it is their “first obligation to dispense justice to all persons fairly” irrespective of their background.

He also urged the judiciary to help sustain the confidence international investors have in the country.

“Ghana has become a leading destination for investment, one of the attractions for this is said to be the quality of our judicial system,” he said.

President Mahama asked the judges to pay attention to the issue of gold scams which is denting the image of Ghana's judicial system.

“There are few instances that foreign investors or business people have complained of a manipulation of our security and justice system by locals who have either defrauded them or have litigation with them.

“This brings us especially to the area of gold scams and others where people are able to manipulate the system to be able to defraud investors who are coming to our country.

“It is my hope that people will pay attention to these in order that we continue to maintain Ghana as an attractive investment destination.”