The Supreme Court is set to launch its 150th anniversary celebrations on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
The anniversary is marked under the theme, ‘Supreme Court at 150, Honouring the past, celebrating the present,’ with the ceremony scheduled at 10:00 a.m. at the CEDI Conference Centre, University of Ghana, Legon.
The Chairperson of the Planning Committee, Justice Richard Adjei-Frimpong, JSC, described the milestone as an opportunity to reflect on the court’s historical journey and future direction, tracing the court’s origins to 1876 under British colonial rule.
He noted that the court did not originally operate as an apex court but rather functioned as both a High Court and a court of first instance, with final appeals determined externally by institutions such as the Privy Council.
According to him, the court has transitioned through its phases, including its early role as a basic adjudicator, a period of disruption under military regimes when it was at times dissolved, and its current phase as an empowered constitutional body under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
In spite of the periods of instability, especially under military rule, he noted that the Judiciary remained resilient, explaining that, although the court faced challenges from military regimes, it endured, with lower courts staying strong, resisting efforts to undermine judicial authority.
Justice Adjei-Frimpong also addressed public concerns about perceived partisanship, explaining that as a policy court, some decisions may align with government positions without implying bias.
He emphasized existing mechanisms such as judicial codes of conduct, disciplinary procedures, and internal deliberations to ensure fairness and independence.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, he announced a series of nationwide activities, including public lectures, legal outreach programmes, a convening of jurists from across Africa, sporting events, a grand durbar, and a thanksgiving service.
He encouraged Ghanaians to actively participate, stressing that the Supreme Court belongs to the people of Ghana and to strengthening democracy.
Source: Ernest Kelvin Okanta
