Arusha: President John Dramani Mahama, at the opening of the 2026 Judicial Year and 20th Anniversary of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights (AfCHPR) in Arusha, Tanzania, has noted with pride Ghana's contribution of legal minds to the august court over the years. He said Ghana's Justice Sophia Akuffo served from 2006 to 2014 and rose to the position of President of the Court. She later served as Chief Justice of Ghana from 2017 until her retirement in 2019. The President said Justice Sir Dennis Adjei, a respected member of Ghana's Supreme Court, was now serving a six-year term following his 2022 election.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama emphasized Africa's wealth in natural resources such as gold, silver, diamonds, copper, cobalt, uranium, oil, and lithium. He highlighted the continent's most significant inheritance as 'our people and their cultural legacies.' He reflected on the historical sacrifices of African leaders like Patrice Lumumba, Eduardo Mondlane, Thomas Sankara, and Amilcar Cabral, who were assassinated, and others like the Asantehene Nana Prempeh I and Nana Yaa Asantewaa, who were banished.
The President discussed the banishment of Omukama Kabalega of Bunyoro and the exile and imprisonment of leaders like Sam Nujoma and Nelson Mandela. He also mentioned the murder of Steve Biko in prison, linking these events to the lost potential and absence of such influential figures. President Mahama referenced his book, 'My First Coup d' Etat,' to discuss 'The Lost Decades of Africa' and the brain drain that affected the continent.
President Mahama spoke about how social injustice and human rights violations extend beyond individuals to impact families and communities. He emphasized the interconnected destinies of Africa's 55 sovereign nations and the global perception of Africa as a single entity. He noted the synergy during Africa's liberation era and the spread of coup d'©tats across the continent.
The President recounted his father's tribulations following the overthrow of Ghana's Founding President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and the subsequent political challenges his father faced. He stressed the importance of the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights as an institution serving all without being beholden to any.
President Mahama highlighted the Court's role over the past two decades in recalibrating moral compasses and maintaining respect for the rights and duties outlined in the Banjul Charter. He called for empowering the Court to protect the continent's ideals and preserve its greatest inheritance.