The Ghana branch of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana) has congratulated the three female justices who were recently appointed to the Supreme Court.

Justice Mariama Owusu, Justice Lovelace Johnson and Justice Gertrude Tokornoo were nominated by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, on Tuesday, 12 November 2019 announced the nominations on the floor of the house.

The three have been appointed to replace Justice Vida Akoto-Bamfo, Justice Sophia Adinyira and Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, who are due for retirement by the end of the year.

They would have to be vetted and approved by Parliament, according to Prof Ocquaye.

In a statement released by FIDA-Ghana signed by its President Afua Addotey, the group said: “FIDA-Ghana celebrates our female Supreme Court appointees who are all sitting Court of Appeal judges, well-known for their competence and industry in their work at the Bench. It is our hope that Parliament will expedite the vetting process for them to assume the high office of Supreme Court judges.”

FIDA-Ghana also commended the President for the appointment of the “female judges to replace retiring female judges” of the Supreme Court and expressed the hope of the appointment being “a sign of better things to come as we anticipate an expeditious passage of the Affirmative Action Bill before the end of 2019.”

The group also reminded President Akufo-Addo “of his promise to pass the Affirmative Action Bill into law as it will deliver an accountability framework for gender equality and women’s empowerment whilst providing an executive and legislative yardstick for measuring Ghana’s commitment and progress towards gender equality.”