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Pres swears in Mensah-Bonsu, Kulendi as Supreme Court judges
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has sworn into office, Prof Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu, a professor of Law and Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi, a successful legal practitioner, as new justices of the Supreme Court.
At separate ceremonies at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday, President Akufo-Addo urged the new justices to enhance the quality of the work of the Apex Court with their rich experience in the legal field.
Prof Mensah-Bonsu has enjoyed a successful career in the fields of academics, female activism, international relations, public service and religious engagements.
She is the Director of the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy, Member of the Legal Committee for the Ghana National Commission on Children, Member of the Board of the Ghana Methodist Church, President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, among other positions.
Justice Kulendi is a successful private legal practitioner who has earned considerable respect in the legal profession.
President Akufo-Addo described his appointment as a personal experience, indicating that Justice Kulendi had his pupilage at his chamber, Akufo-Addo, Prempeh and Co, and “cutting his teeth” in his early days at the bar.
President Akufo-Addo said the appointment of the two legal luminaries, which came on the heels of engagements with the Judicial Council, Council of State, and with the approval of Parliament, would help strengthen the development of the Court’s jurisprudence and case law.
He advised the Supreme Court not to follow decisions of any other court, including its own, and entreated justices of the court to possess sound knowledge of the law.
“Judges should not prefer judgments on the basis of decisions from lower courts and cite them as law,” he said and indicated that the situation where judges site no law at all should also be avoided.
“Justices must be learned, know their case law and ensure that their decisions and judgments are properly motivated,” he said.
President AKufo-Addo said the public expects that if anyone fell foul of the law, the person should be dealt with accordingly and appealed to judges to ensure that justice was done to all persons without any considerations.
Justice Prof Mensah Bonsu and Justice Kulendi thanked the President for nominating him to the Supreme Court and pledged to always devote their time and talents to serve the country to the best of their ability.
By Yaw Kyei
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EC to conduct elections in selected polling stations at Ablekuma North
As part of its commitment to resolve the impass egarding he Ablekuma North Constituency Parliamentary Election, the Electoral Commission(EC) yesterday, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, met with the representatives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The meeting, which was a follow-up to an earlier meeting held on Thursday, June 12, 2025, provided both parties the opportunity to brief the commission on any new
developments regarding the said constituency.
The parties informed the Commission that their positions put forward at the last mecting remained unchanged.
The NDC held the view that the election should be rerun thirty -seven
(37) Polling Stations because scanned Pink Sheets from 37 Polling Stations which were used to
collate the results, were provided the NPP.
The NPP was of the view that the results from three (3) outstanding Poling Stations be collated and a winner declared since the NDC Agents had verified and confirmed
the scanned Poling Station results they presented.
According to the EC, it is important for the public to understand that the issue in contention has to do with
the fact that 37 Pink Sheets provided by the NPP and used to colate the results were scanned copies.
“The Public may recall that Political Party supporters besieged our Collation Centre and
destroyed a number of the Pink Sheets for the Ablekuma North Parliamentary Elcction during the collation of results following the December 7 Gencral Election,” the EC added.
After extensive deliberations, the Commission informed the Political Parties that it would
proceed to rerun the election in 19
of the 37 Polling Stations.
The Commission arrived at the decision to rerun the election in the underlisted Polling Stations because, the scanned Polling Station resuits used for the collation, though approved by Agents of both political Parties, were not verified by the Presiding Officers responsible for the Polling
Stations.
According to the EC, it is instructive to note that the Commission was able to secure the Presiding Officers
verification and confirmation for 18 scanned Polling Station results-
Agents of both parties also approved same.
The election will be held on Friday, July 11, 2025
The Commission has further urged the Ghana Police Service to provide the needed security to ensure a safe environment for the conduct of the election.
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
