Ghana's President nominates Edward Asante to Supreme Court

President John Mahama of Ghana has nominated Edward Asante, the former President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, to join the Ghanaian Supreme Court.

This information was shared in a statement by Asante’s office on Friday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

The statement noted that Mr Asante, who is a judge at Ghana’s Court of Appeal, was nominated along with Sophia Bernasko, also from the appeal court, and Tony Forson, a former President of the Ghana Bar Association.

The statement mentioned that the Ghanaian president made these nominations based on advice from the National Judicial Council after consulting the Council of State.

The nominees will be reviewed by the appointments committee of Ghana’s Parliament. Their recommendations will need to be approved by the parliament.

If the legislature approves the nominations, the number of justices on Ghana’s Supreme Court will increase from 18 to 21. This will boost the court's ability to handle constitutional, civil, and criminal matters.

Asante served as the sixth President of the ECOWAS Court for three terms of two years each, totaling six years from 2018 to 2024.

The statement highlighted that Asante is a respected figure in the legal field.

In October 2025, he was appointed to the Advisory Committee of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

This committee has 18 members and requires members to understand human rights mechanisms. They also need to show a history of fair decision-making and diplomatic skills.

While leading the ECOWAS Court, Asante expanded the court's rulings on civil and political rights based on both continental and international laws.

During his time, the court also developed the Electronic Case Management System (ECMS), allowing people to file their cases online.

The ECMS also made it possible for the court to hold virtual sessions. This reduced costs for those involved and improved access to human rights protections in the area.

Asante also started the project to create a more modern website for the court to keep up with technology.

In 2020, the court, under Asante’s leadership, received the Columbia University Global Freedom of Expression Award.

This award was established in 2015 by Columbia University in New York to honor judicial decisions that enhance freedom of expression globally.

Asante brings over 33 years of experience as a lawyer and judge, with knowledge in various fields of law, including public international law, international human rights law, mediation, and arbitration.