Stories and facts

The Chief Justice of Ghana holds the highest judicial position in the Supreme Court, overseeing the country's judiciary and ensuring its proper functioning.

Initially established in 1876, the Supreme Court of Judicature marked the end of a ten-year absence of a Supreme Court, with Sir David Patrick Chalmers appointed as the first Chief Justice.

The role of the Chief Justice has evolved, with changes in appointment procedures, notably shifting from the advice of the prime minister to appointments based on the prime minister's recommendation after Ghana gained independence in 1957.

The appointment of these women has demonstrated the significance of women in development. While these appointments may not prompt an immediate change in the status of women's representation in Ghanaian public office, they offer a promising sign that greater female representation could enhance gender perspectives within the judiciary.

Georgina Theodora Wood

Appointed as Chief Justice on June 1, 2007, she served until June 8, 2017. She was the first woman to hold this position in Ghana.

Sophia Akuffo

Appointed as Chief Justice on June 19, 2017, she served until December 20, 2019. She succeeded Georgina Wood as the second female Chief Justice of Ghana.

Gertrude Tokornoo

In April 2023, she was nominated for the position of Chief Justice, succeeding Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, who retired on May 24, 2023. On June 12, 2023, she was sworn in as the 15th Chief Justice of Ghana.