Ratify the protocol without delay — Mahama urges AU states
President John Dramani Mahama has called on African Union (AU) member states that have not yet ratified the Protocol to the African Charter establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to do so “without delay,” stressing that a strong and independent continental court is vital to safeguarding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Africa.
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 said the time had come for African nations to fully empower the Court to carry out its mandate without fear or interference.
“I call upon African Union member states who have not yet ratified the Protocol to please do so without delay,” he urged. “To my colleagues in those countries, I assure you that you have nothing to fear from this Court.”
The Ghanaian leader further appealed to states that have ratified the Protocol to demonstrate good faith by respecting and implementing the Court’s judgments.
“I humbly ask all African nations and individuals to respect and implement the Court’s judgments in good faith, and to also make the declaration to allow individuals and NGOs direct access to the Court,” he added.
Strengthening Continental Justice
President Mahama described the African Court as an institution “that serves all but is beholden to none,” emphasizing that its independence is critical to protecting the rights and dignity of African citizens beyond the borders of their individual nations.
He noted that over the past two decades, the Court has shown “fortitude and courage” in upholding the principles enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, also known as the Banjul Charter.
“We need that kind of oversight so that we remain observant and respectful of the rights and duties enumerated in the Charter,” he said.
According to him, strengthening the Court is not merely a legal obligation but a moral imperative for a continent whose history has been marked by colonial oppression, coups d’état, political detentions, and human rights abuses.
A Personal Commitment to Justice
President Mahama’s call was underscored by personal reflections on his father’s detention following Ghana’s 1966 coup and subsequent political upheavals, experiences he said shaped his lifelong belief in justice and due process.
“I remain the child whose father was detained for serving his country and advising its leader,” he told the gathering of Heads of State, judges, diplomats, and civil society representatives.
He stressed that injustice against one individual reverberates across families and communities, reinforcing the need for strong, impartial judicial institutions at both national and continental levels.
Looking to the Future
With Africa’s population projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050 and nearly 40 percent of the global population by the end of the century, President Mahama said protecting human rights and strengthening judicial institutions is essential to unlocking the continent’s full potential.
“Africa must measure its wealth not only by its natural resources, but by its people,” he said, urging leaders to build systems that guarantee life, dignity, liberty, and self-determination.
He expressing hope that by the time the African Court marks its 40th anniversary, it would stand as “the leading international judicial body and a model for others.”
“Now is the time to deepen our commitment to the Court,” President Mahama declared, as he officially opened the 2026 Judicial Year.
