Former ECOWAS Court President Nominated to Ghana’s Supreme Court Bench

Justice Edward Amoako Asante, the former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, has been nominated by President John Dramani Mahama for appointment to Ghana’s Supreme Court, marking another significant milestone in his distinguished judicial career.

The nomination, announced in Accra, forms part of the President’s latest appointments to strengthen the country’s highest court. Justice Asante, who currently serves as a Justice of Ghana’s Court of Appeal, was nominated alongside Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko of the Court of Appeal and former Ghana Bar Association President Tony Forson.

If approved by Parliament, the appointments will increase the number of judges on Ghana’s Supreme Court from 18 to 21, expanding the court’s capacity to hear constitutional, civil, criminal, and other important national cases.

Justice Asante is widely respected for his extensive judicial experience at both the national and regional levels. Before returning to Ghana’s judiciary, he served as President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, where he completed three consecutive terms spanning six years. His tenure ended in October 2024 after serving as the sixth President of the regional court.

During his time at the ECOWAS Court, Justice Asante presided over numerous cases involving human rights, regional integration, and the interpretation of community laws affecting member states of the Economic Community of West African States. His leadership contributed to strengthening the court’s role in promoting justice, accountability, and the rule of law across the West African sub region.

His nomination to Ghana’s Supreme Court reflects the confidence placed in his legal expertise and judicial experience after years of service within both Ghana’s legal system and regional institutions.

According to the statement announcing the nominations, Justice Asante’s appointment follows the constitutional process governing appointments to Ghana’s apex court.

Under the 1992 Constitution, Supreme Court judges are nominated by the President acting on the advice of the Judicial Council and in consultation with the Council of State. However, the appointments only become effective after Parliament approves the nominees following a public vetting process.

The three nominees are expected to appear before Parliament’s Appointments Committee, where members will examine their professional qualifications, judicial philosophy, integrity, and suitability for service on the country’s highest court.

Following the vetting exercise, the committee will submit its recommendations to Parliament for consideration before a final vote is taken.

Justice Asante’s nomination has attracted considerable attention because of his record of service within international judicial institutions. Throughout his career, he has contributed significantly to the development of human rights jurisprudence and regional justice mechanisms in West Africa.

His experience includes handling complex cross border legal disputes, interpreting regional treaties, and promoting judicial cooperation among ECOWAS member states.

Beyond his work within the regional court, Justice Asante has continued serving Ghana’s judiciary as a Justice of the Court of Appeal, bringing valuable international experience to the country’s domestic legal system.

His reputation extends beyond Africa. In October 2025, he was appointed to the Advisory Committee of the United Nations Human Rights Council, an 18 member body of independent experts that serves as the Council’s think tank on international human rights issues.

Membership of the Advisory Committee is reserved for experts with demonstrated knowledge of international human rights law, impartial decision making, and extensive professional experience in addressing complex legal and policy matters.

The appointment further strengthened Justice Asante’s standing within the international legal community and highlighted his contribution to the advancement of global human rights standards.

Legal observers believe his experience at both the regional and international levels could provide additional expertise to Ghana’s Supreme Court, particularly in cases involving constitutional interpretation, human rights, and international legal obligations.

Justice Asante’s nomination comes at a time when Ghana’s judiciary continues to handle an increasing number of complex constitutional and public interest cases. Expanding the number of Supreme Court judges is expected to improve the court’s efficiency by reducing case backlogs and enabling quicker resolution of appeals and constitutional matters.

The inclusion of experienced jurists from different areas of legal practice is also expected to strengthen the diversity of expertise available on the bench.

The other nominees also bring extensive legal experience. Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko has served on the Court of Appeal and built a distinguished judicial career, while Tony Forson is a respected private legal practitioner and former President of the Ghana Bar Association.

Together, the three nominees represent backgrounds in appellate adjudication, private legal practice, and international judicial service.

If Parliament approves the nominations, Justice Edward Amoako Asante will join Ghana’s Supreme Court after decades of distinguished service at the national, regional, and international levels. His appointment would not only strengthen the country’s highest court but also add valuable experience gained from leading one of Africa’s most important regional judicial institutions.

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