Justice remains permanent need in Ghana - Nana Oye Bampoe Addo

Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Supreme Court of Ghana, declared that "you cannot permanently remove the need for justice in Ghana" at the official launch of the Supreme Court's 150th anniversary on April 16 at the Cedi Conference Centre at the University of Ghana, Legon. She traced the court's history to the Supreme Court Ordinance of 1876. She noted that final appeals were once decided outside Ghana, by the West African Court of Appeal and later by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in the United Kingdom.

Nana Oye Bampoe Addo said the creation of an indigenous Supreme Court brought justice closer to the people. She emphasized that the judiciary has survived major political transitions, despite being abolished and restored during periods of military rule. She drew on scholarly work by retired Justice Samuel Kofi Date-Bah, noting that court decisions have shaped legal doctrine and the culture of governance in Ghana. She highlighted landmark cases including Tuffuor v Attorney-General (1980), Sallah v Attorney-General (1970), and New Patriotic Party v Attorney-General (1993-94). The event was chaired by Justice Richard Adjei-Frimpong.

The 150th anniversary celebration is themed "Supreme Court at 150: Honouring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Defining the Future." Activities for the year-long celebration include legal outreach programmes, academic symposia, moot court competitions, and a grand durbar. The anniversary is expected to conclude in July 2026 with a formal dinner and a national thanksgiving service. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo paid tribute to the 28 Chief Justices who have led the court since 1876, from Sir David Patrick Chalmers to the