President John Dramani Mahama has urged African leaders to strengthen and empower the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, describing it as a vital guardian of justice and human dignity across the continent.
Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Judicial Year and the 20th Anniversary of the African Court in Arusha, Tanzania, the President emphasised the need for an independent institution “that serves all but is beholden to none.” He said the Court remains essential in safeguarding the rights enshrined in the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
President Mahama expressed pride in Ghana’s longstanding contribution to the Court, noting that Justice Sophia Akuffo served on the bench from 2006 to 2014 and rose to become its President before later serving as Ghana’s Chief Justice. He also highlighted the current service of Justice Sir Dennis Adjei, a member of Ghana’s Supreme Court, who was elected to a six-year term in 2022.
Beyond institutional matters, the President reflected on Africa’s turbulent political history, arguing that the continent’s greatest resource is not its vast mineral wealth but its people and cultural heritage. He cited the struggles and sacrifices of key African figures, including Patrice Lumumba, Thomas Sankara, Amilcar Cabral, Sam Nujoma, and Nelson Mandela, as examples of how injustice and repression have shaped the continent’s trajectory.
He also referenced Ghana’s own history, recounting the political hardships faced by his late father, Mr E.A. Mahama, following the 1966 coup that overthrew Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. The President noted that the ripple effects of coups, exile, detention, and human rights violations extended beyond individuals to families and entire nations.
Drawing from themes in his book, My First Coup d’Etat, President Mahama described what he termed “The Lost Decades of Africa,” a period marked by political instability, brain drain, and stagnation. He warned that without strong institutions to uphold justice and accountability, such setbacks could recur.
He commended the African Court for demonstrating courage and moral clarity over the past two decades, stating that it has consistently worked to recalibrate the continent’s moral compass. He called on African nations to fully empower the Court to protect shared ideals and preserve what he described as Africa’s most valuable inheritance — its people.
