President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged judges of the High Court to demonstrate that they are honest, possess integrity and a sound knowledge of the law while in office.

According to President Akufo-Addo, the situation, where judges proffer judgements on the basis of decisions from lower courts and cite them as law, is not acceptable, and even less so, when judges cite no authority at all for their rulings, and give orders without reasons.

“You must be learned, know your case law and ensure your judgements are properly motivated. The principle of stare decisis, the ancient common law doctrine of precedent, has been, and continues to be the time-honoured foundation for the coherent development of the law, and should not be lightly discarded,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo made this known on Wednesday, 1st August, 2018, when he swore into office seven new High Court judges, at a brief ceremony at Jubilee House, Accra.

The judges are Her Honour Afia Nyarko Adu-Amankwa, His Honour John Ekow Mensah, Her Honour Janet Anima Maafo, His Honour Matthew Kyeremateng, Her Honour Joan Eyi King, His Honour Frederick Tetteh, and Mr. John Eugene Nyante Nyadu.

Describing the High Court as “the focal point for justice delivery in our judicial structure”, the President indicated that much of the work of the Judiciary begins and ends there.