President John Dramani Mahama has urged three newly sworn-in Justices of the Supreme Court to uphold the Constitution and administer justice without fear or favour.

He said the authority of the Supreme Court depended on the confidence and trust of the Ghanaian people and, therefore, the new Justices must protect the rights of citizens and ensure that no individual or institution was above the law.

President Mahama made the call at the Presidency in Accra during the swearing-in ceremony of, Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Justice Edward Amoako Asante and Justice Anthony Forson Jr. as Justices of the Supreme Court.

Congratulating the three on their appointments, he said their new positions came with a major responsibility to strengthen Ghana’s constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

“The oath you have taken today is consequential, not ceremonial. It is a solemn covenant with the people of Ghana,” President Mahama stated.

He said Supreme Court Justices needed more than legal knowledge, noting that they must also demonstrate sound judgement, integrity, courage, patience and a strong commitment to justice.

President Mahama urged the new Justices to remain independent when handling cases involving strong public emotions or political interests.

He advised them not to be influenced by pressure, praise or criticism, but to allow the quality of their reasoning, fairness and loyalty to the Constitution to define their legacy.

The President called on the judiciary to continue with reforms aimed at improving the delivery of justice.

He said prolonged cases, unnecessary adjournments and delays in delivering judgments created hardship for ordinary citizens and could undermine public confidence in the justice system.

President Mahama, therefore, urged the judiciary to embrace appropriate technology and improve the accessibility and efficiency of the courts.

He called for Supreme Court judgments to be written in clear language to provide reliable guidance to lower courts, public institutions, lawyers and citizens.

President Mahama described Justice Bernasko Essah as an experienced judicial officer whose service at the Court of Appeal would bring valuable experience to the Supreme Court.

He noted that Justice Asante brought both national and regional judicial experience, having served on the Court of Appeal and as a former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

According to him, Justice Asante’s experience in regional integration, human rights and international law would enrich the work of the Supreme Court.

On Justice Forson, President Mahama said his decades of experience in private legal practice and his former leadership of the Ghana Bar Association would bring an important perspective to the Court.

He said his experience of representing citizens, businesses and institutions before the courts could help the Supreme Court better understand how legal decisions affect ordinary people.

Speaking on behalf of the three Justices, Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah expressed gratitude to President Mahama for the confidence reposed in them.

She pledged that the three would hear cases fairly, decide according to the law, act with courage and integrity, and remain faithful to the Constitution and the oaths they had sworn.

The three Justices were administered the Oath of Allegiance, Judicial Oath and Oath of Secrecy by President Mahama before receiving their warrants of appointment.

By: Jacob Aggrey

When international journalist Enoch Worlanyo first described Alpine, Texas, as “The Eden of the Far West,” he meant it as a love letter. This week, that love letter was returned.

Alpine Mayor Catherine Eaves recently referenced Worlanyo’s feature story in her own vision for the high-desert town — a gesture that has sparked a transatlantic moment of pride from the heart of West Africa to the heart of Far West Texas.

Nestled 4,475 feet above sea level in the Big Bend, Alpine is no ordinary small town. It is the gateway to Big Bend National Park, the cultural capital of the Davis Mountains, and critically — the beating heart of the world’s largest Gold Tier International Dark Sky Reserve. Here, the Milky Way doesn’t just appear. It blazes.

Worlanyo, reporting from Accra, has been following Alpine’s evolution closely — its preservation of dark skies, its downtown renaissance, and its unique cast of community builders, including Denver-based pitmaster and former Alpine favourite Annie Yayra Hiamey of Desert Delight.

WHY THE WORLD IS LOOKING WEST:

The Dark Sky Sanctuary: In an era of light pollution, Alpine offers something vanishingly rare — crystalline, protected night skies where thousands of stars, planets and the river of the Milky Way are visible to the naked eye. A true pilgrimage for astro-tourists.

Heritage Meets Hospitality: Beyond the skies, it’s the people. A historic downtown, thriving arts scene, and genuine West Texas warmth that makes strangers feel like neighbours.

The Ultimate Basecamp: From Marfa’s mystery lights to the trails of Big Bend and the peaks of the Davis Mountains, Alpine is the centre of it all.

A message of gratitude from Accra

Reflecting on Mayor Eaves’ acknowledgement, Worlanyo said:

“Seeing Mayor Eaves reference my description of Alpine as ‘The Eden of the Far West’ brought a wave of warmth straight from Texas to Accra. I am deeply honoured and humbled — thank you, Madam Mayor, for that thoughtful nod.

“My work may be based in Accra, Ghana, but a piece of my heart never left Alpine. I follow every story, every milestone, every starry night you share. Distance has not faded the connection.

“There is a pure, untamed magic to Alpine that you cannot find anywhere else on Earth. By day, endless horizons that cleanse the soul. By night, a sky so alive it feels like you can touch eternity. It is truly a sanctuary.

“So this is my invitation to every traveller, dreamer, and stargazer reading this: Pack your bags and head west. Come experience the warmth, stand under a sky ablaze with stars, and discover for yourself why Alpine steals every heart that finds it.”

About Enoch Worlanyo

Enoch Worlanyo is an Accra-based international broadcast journalist, Head of Sports at Asempa FM, Adom FM, and Adom TV, covering sports, cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and global tourism.

His work bridges continents, telling African stories to the world and bringing the world’s hidden Edens back home.

CAPTION
Enoch Worlanyo