Former Director of Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansa-Asare
Former Director of the Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansa-Asare, has called for greater judicial independence, urging Supreme Court Justices to prioritise their allegiance to the Constitution over loyalty to the political figures who appoint them.
He also criticised what he described as an increasing trend of political favouritism in judicial appointments.
“The way things happen in Ghana, we tend to overly satisfy our followers. So, if there is an NPP government in power, then they will look for judges who are sympathetic to their political aspirations,” he stated during an interview on TV3 on May 7, 2025.
He continued, “Once a judge has been appointed, whether by the NPP, NDC, or any other party, that judge becomes a justice of the Court of Ghana. Therefore, if you are a justice of the Supreme Court, your loyalty must always be to the Constitution and not to the person who appoints you.”
Ansa-Asare further cited the legacy of Sir Arku Korsah, Ghana’s first Chief Justice, who famously resisted political pressure from President Kwame Nkrumah.
“Sir Arku Korsah, I’m told, reminded Nkrumah to his face; ‘You appointed me, but my loyalty is not to your personality, it is to the Constitution of Ghana,’” he said.
He urged current and future justices to emulate such courage and integrity.
“If we can follow those examples, there will be no problem for this country,” Ansa-Asare stated.
His remarks come in the wake of heightened tensions following the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
RAD/MA