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Sunday, 13 September 2026
Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Sunday, 13 September 2026
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Ghanaian press · Person

Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah

Also known as: Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah · Justice Sophia Essah · Justice Essah · Mrs. Justice Essah

Court of Appeal Judge nominated and sworn in as Supreme Court Justice in 2026, assuring judicial independence.

2026-07-162026-09-13

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. September 2026
  2. Daily Guide

    The President also called on the three new judges – Justices Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Edward Amoako Asante, and Anthony Forson Jnr.

    Mahama Swears In 3 New SC Judges
  3. Joy Online

    The new judges to the nation’s apex court are Mrs Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah and Mr.

    ‘Let the Constitution remain your compass’ – Mahama urges new SC Judges
  4. Joy Online

    Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, a newly inaugurated Supreme Court (SC) Judge, has assured President John Dramani Mahama that she and her newly sworn-in colleague Supreme Court Judges would be independent enough to decide according to law.

    We shall be independent enough- SC Judges assure Mahama
  5. The Ghanaian Times

    President Mahama made the call at the Presidency in Accra during the swearing-in ceremony of, Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Justice Anthony Forson Jr.

    President Mahama urges new Supreme Court Justices to uphold Constitution and judicial independence
  6. Joy Online

    President Mahama made the call during the swearing-in of three newly appointed Justices of the Supreme Court — Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jnr.

    Mahama urges judges to uphold impartiality in all cases including politically sensitive ones
  7. Joy Online

    President Mahama made the remarks at the swearing-in of three newly appointed Justices of the Supreme Court — Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jnr., popularly known as Tony Forson.

    Mahama urges Supreme Court justices to protect public trust in judiciary
  8. Joy Online

    In congratulating Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Anthony Forson Jnr, he urged them to serve with wisdom, integrity and independence.

    Let your reasoning and fairness define your legacy – Mahama to new justices
  9. Joy Online

    The new justices are Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jnr.

    Mahama swears in three new Supreme Court justices
  10. August 2026
  11. Joy Online

    Parliament later approved Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jnr for appointment to the Supreme Court.

    Mahama’s Supreme Court nominees are not court-packing — Akwatia MP
  12. Joy Online

    Parliament also approved Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jnr for appointment to the Supreme Court.

    Mahama Ayariga, Zanetor and three Supreme Court nominees to be sworn in today

Friday 11 September

  1. Mahama swears in three new Supreme Court justices

    President John Mahama swore in three new Supreme Court justices—Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Edward Amoako Asante, and Anthony Forson Jnr.—bringing the total number appointed by him since January 7, 2025 to 10. The three were approved by Parliament on August 27, 2026, despite opposition from the Minority who objected to the expedited vetting timeline.

    11 September 2026 · Daily Guide

  2. Mahama swears in three new Supreme Court judges

    President John Dramani Mahama swore in three new Supreme Court judges—Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and Justice Tony Forson—and urged them to let the Constitution guide their decisions and remain unmoved by public pressures or political interests.

    11 September 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Newly sworn Supreme Court Judges assure independence from President

    Three newly inaugurated Supreme Court Judges—Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Edward Amoako Asante, and Tony Forson—were sworn in by President Mahama at the Presidency. Justice Essah assured on behalf of the judges that they would be independent enough to decide according to law, interpreting and applying it faithfully, impartially, and courageously.

    11 September 2026 · Joy Online

  4. President Mahama charges newly sworn Supreme Court Justices

    President John Dramani Mahama urged three newly sworn-in Supreme Court Justices—Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Edward Amoako Asante, and Anthony Forson Jr.—to uphold the Constitution, administer justice without fear or favour, and remain independent when handling politically sensitive cases. He stressed that their authority depends on public confidence and that they must protect citizens' rights and ensure no individual or institution is above the law.

    11 September 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

Thursday 10 September

  1. Mahama urges judges to remain independent in sensitive cases

    President Mahama called on judges to maintain independence and impartiality when handling cases, particularly those that are difficult, unpopular, or politically sensitive, saying the Supreme Court's authority depends on public confidence that matters are determined strictly according to the law.

    10 September 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Mahama urges Supreme Court justices to protect public trust

    President Mahama, speaking at the swearing-in of three new Supreme Court justices, stressed that the apex court's authority rests on public confidence and trust rather than political power, and urged the justices to ensure cases are determined independently, impartially and in accordance with the law.

    10 September 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Mahama urges new Supreme Court justices to uphold fairness, independence

    President John Mahama has urged three newly sworn-in Supreme Court justices to let the quality of their reasoning, fairness of their decisions, and loyalty to the Constitution define their legacy, and to remain unmoved by public pressure, political interests, or criticism in their judgments.

    10 September 2026 · Joy Online

  4. Mahama swears in three new Supreme Court justices

    President John Mahama has sworn in three new justices to the Supreme CourtJustice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and Anthony Forson Jnr.—urging them to uphold the Constitution, protect citizens' rights, and ensure no individual or institution is placed above the law.

    10 September 2026 · Joy Online

Saturday 29 August

  1. Akwatia MP defends Mahama's Supreme Court nominees against court-packing claims

    Bernard Bediako Baidoo, MP for Akwatia, has rejected accusations that the Mahama administration is attempting to pack the Supreme Court, arguing that the circumstances differ from those under former President Akufo-Addo. Baidoo contended that while the NDC previously objected to Akufo-Addo's appointments of political allies, the Mahama administration's nominees were selected to perform a job for the executive, not for partisan reasons.

    29 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Mahama, Supreme Court nominees sworn in today

    President John Dramani Mahama is swearing in Mahama Ayariga as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology; and three Supreme Court nominees—Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and Anthony Forson Jnr—at Jubilee House on Saturday, August 29, 2026, following Parliament's approval on Thursday.

    29 August 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 28 August

  1. Appointments Committee approves three Supreme Court nominees amid Minority boycott

    Parliament's Appointments Committee unanimously recommended three nominees—Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and Anthony Forson Jnr.—for appointment to the Supreme Court, despite a walkout by Minority members who objected to the vetting process. If approved by Parliament, the appointments would increase the number of Supreme Court Justices from 18 to 21.

    28 August 2026 · Daily Guide

Thursday 27 August

  1. Parliament approves three new Supreme Court Justice nominees

    Parliament has approved the nominations of Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jnr for appointment as Justices of the Supreme Court, following the adoption of the Appointments Committee's report. The approval proceeded despite strong objections from the Minority Caucus, who protested the accelerated vetting process, though they did not challenge the nominees personally or the President's constitutional authority to nominate.

    27 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Supreme Court can depart from precedent when necessary, nominee says

    Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, appearing before Parliament's Appointments Committee as a Supreme Court nominee, said the apex court has authority to depart from previous decisions where necessary to prevent injustice or correct legal errors, provided such departures are justified by compelling reasons under Article 129(3) of the 1992 Constitution.

    27 August 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Appointments Committee approves three Supreme Court nominees

    Parliament's Appointments Committee has recommended approval of Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and private legal practitioner Anthony Forson Jnr for appointment to Ghana's Supreme Court, which would increase the number of justices from 18 to 21. The recommendation came after a contentious vetting process during which the Minority Caucus walked out in objection to the compressed procedure and the lack of public opportunity to submit memoranda on the nominees.

    27 August 2026 · Joy Online

  4. Minority opposes rushed vetting of three Supreme Court nominees

    Ghana's Parliamentary Minority has demanded the deferment of the vetting of three Supreme Court nominees—Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and Anthony Forson Jnr.—arguing the Supreme Court is operating at full capacity with no urgent vacancy to justify the accelerated process before Parliament's recall ends August 28.

    27 August 2026 · Joy Online

Saturday 1 August

  1. Court of Appeal unable to rule on AG's stay application

    A newly constituted Court of Appeal panel convened on short notice to hear the Attorney-General's application for a stay of execution in the Sedina Tamakloe Attionu case failed to reach a decision, leaving the former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer in prison as the courts head into a two-month vacation. The judges could not agree on a ruling and the court indicated it will seek a warrant from the Chief Justice to sit during the legal vacation.

    1 August 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 17 July

  1. Afenyo-Markin accuses NDC of hypocrisy over court judge nominations

    Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the NDC of political inconsistency, saying the party criticised the NPP administration's Supreme Court nominations while in opposition but is now nominating judges itself after returning to government. Afenyo-Markin acknowledged the President's constitutional authority to make such nominations but questioned whether the NDC is "a principled political party."

    17 July 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Afenyo-Markin accuses NDC of hypocrisy on court nominations

    Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the NDC of political inconsistency, saying the party criticised the NPP administration's Supreme Court appointments while in opposition but is now making similar nominations under President Mahama. Afenyo-Markin acknowledged the President's constitutional authority to nominate judges but questioned the NDC's stated principles.

    17 July 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 16 July

  1. Mahama nominates three candidates for Supreme Court positions

    President John Dramani Mahama has nominated two Court of Appeal judges and a former President of the Ghana Bar Association for appointment to the Supreme Court, a move that will increase the apex court's membership if approved. The nominees — Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and Tony Forson — will appear before Parliament's Appointments Committee for vetting before submission to the House for approval.

    16 July 2026 · Joy Online

Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute