President Mahama calls for stronger African judicial independence

President John Dramani Mahama has called on African Union member states to strengthen their commitment to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, urging nations that have not yet ratified the Court’s Protocol to do so without delay.

Delivering the keynote address at the official opening of the 2026 Judicial Year and the 20th Anniversary of the African Court in Arusha, Tanzania, President Mahama underscored the importance of judicial independence, human dignity, and the rule of law in safeguarding Africa’s future.

“I humbly ask all African nations and individuals to respect and implement the Court’s judgements in good faith,” he stated. “To my colleagues in those countries, I assure you that you have nothing to fear from this Court.”

A Personal Reflection on Justice

In a deeply personal segment of his address, President Mahama reflected on his father’s detention following the 1966 coup that overthrew Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He recounted how his father, a former Minister of State, was detained and later exiled for offering advice to a military ruler.

“Although I stand before you as a Head of State, I remain the child whose father was detained for serving his country and advising its leader,” Mahama said. “I am still the boy who learned how dangerous it can be to challenge those in power.”

He noted that such experiences shaped his enduring belief in justice and due process, stressing that “the effects of social injustice and human rights violations extend beyond individuals; they impact entire families and communities.”

Africa’s Shared Destiny

President Mahama emphasized Africa’s interconnected destiny, recalling both the solidarity of the liberation era and the spread of military coups across the continent.

“We are each other’s keepers,” he declared. “This is why we need an institution that serves all but is beholden to none: the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

He praised the Court’s two decades of operation, saying it has “proven time and again that it has the fortitude and courage to recalibrate our moral compass.”

Human Capital as Africa’s Greatest Wealth

The Ghanaian leader urged African countries to measure their wealth not by natural resources but by the value placed on their people.

“At times, it becomes easy to overlook that our most significant inheritance is our people and their cultural legacies,” he noted.

Referencing Africa’s projected population growth, he said by 2050 the continent will be home to 2.5 billion people — more than a quarter of the world’s population.

“Can we imagine the power that we hold in our hands?” he asked. “Now is the time for Africa to step into its greatness.”

A Changing Global Landscape

President Mahama also took aim at what he described as declining democratic standards globally, warning against complacency.

“For far too long, we have compared ourselves to the West and used what we believed were their standards as benchmarks,” he said, quoting former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere: “One does not judge one’s state of health by comparing it to a sick person.”

He stressed that Africa must define its own paradigm for democracy, justice, and governance while preserving its dignity and cultural identity.

Ghana’s Contribution and Commitment

President Mahama highlighted Ghana’s contribution to the Court, referencing Justice Sophia Akuffo, who served as President of the Court before becoming Ghana’s Chief Justice, and Justice Dennis Adjei, currently serving a six-year term.

“As I stand and recollect my youth, and my fear for my father through my recurring nightmares, I realise that I can put those fears to rest,” he said. “For the past 20 years, we have had a court that can protect the rights and dignity of African people beyond the borders of our individual nations.”

President Mahama officially declared the 2026 Judicial Year open, calling on African states to deepen their commitment to the Court so that, at its 40th anniversary, it will stand as “the leading international judicial body and a model for others.”

“Now is the time to deepen our commitment to the Court,” he said. “Now is the time for Africa to step into its greatness.”