A historic 20 judges and magistrates from the various hierarchy of the Judiciary including four Supreme Court justices have retired from the service.

The number is said to be the highest-ever number of judges and magistrates to retire in a single legal year (2022/23) in the history of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG).

This year’s number of retirees is eight more than the 12 that retired in the 2021/2022 legal year.

This was announced by the President of the AMJG, Justice Henry Attorney Kwofie, also a Justice of the Court of Appeal during their 42nd annual general conference in Accra.

Among the retirees are four justices of the Apex Court namely; Justice Anin Yeboah, former Chief Justice, Justice Jones Victor Dotse, Justice Nene Amegatcher, and Justice Prof. Nii Ashie Kotey.

The others include five Court of Appeal justices, one each from the High Court and the Circuit Court, and nine District Court Magistrates.

They were all recognized with a citation at the 42nd Annual Conference of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana on September 27, 2023.

Announcing their retirement from the bench this year, President of the AMJG, Justice Henry Anthony Kwofie said, “This year 20 of our members in the various hierarchy of the courts have retired or are about to retire after several years of dedicated service to the Judicial Service and the Country.”

“This is the highest number of judges and magistrates ever to retire in one legal year in the history of the AMJG,” the President of AMJG stated.

EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, reports that the 2023/2024 Legal year officially begins today, Monday, October 2, 2023, and will end on July 31, 2024.

Meanwhile, since the AMJG’s last Annual General Meeting in September 2022, the Association also lost four of its members.

They were His Lordship Justice Frank Manu popularly called Teacher Manu a retired High Court Judge, Her Ladyship Justice Naana Buadi-Addo Abubakar, a Justice of the High Court, Her Honour Marvin Emmanuel Essandoh, a Circuit Court Judge and His Worship Divine Ahiadu.

Retiree judges and magistrates

1. His Lordship Kwasi Anin-Yeboah former Chief Justice

2. His Lordship Justice Jones Victor Dose of the Supreme Court

3. Justice Nene Amegatcher of the Supreme Court

4. His Lordship Prof. Justice Ni Ashie Kotey of the Supreme Court

5. His Lordship Justice Victor Ofoe of the Court of Appeal

6. Her Ladyship Justice Margaret Welbourne of the Court of Appeal who has retired voluntarily

7. Her Ladyship Justice Angelina Morna Dormaakyareh of the Court of Appeal

8. Her Ladyship Justice Amma Gaisie of the Court of Appeal

9. Her Ladyship Justice Cecilia Hanzzy Sowah of the Court of Appeal who will retire in December 2023

10. Her Ladyship Justice Patience Mills- Tetteh of the High Court

11. His Honour Micheal Kudjo Ampadu Circuit Court

12. His Worship Prince Andrew Cudjoe District Court

13 His Worship Joseph Twumasi District Court

14. Her Worship Joyce Bamfo District Court

15. His Worship Dapileh Peter Banoe District Court

16. His Worship Augustine Essah District Court

17. His Worship David Dokurigu Sebiyam District Court

18. Her Worship Bernadine S. Abravi Senoo District Court

19. His Worship Awal Narh District Court

20. Her Worship Memunatu Yakubu District Court