President John Dramani Mahama has called on African governments to grant individuals and civil society organisations direct access to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, insisting that expanding access to justice should not alarm member States.
Speaking on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Arusha at the opening of the Court’s 2026 judicial year and its 20th anniversary, he urged countries within the African Union that have yet to make the required declaration to do so promptly.
He maintained that Governments have “nothing to fear” from a strengthened continental Court and encouraged full compliance with its rulings.
The President argued that the Court’s effectiveness hinges on both wider access and the good-faith implementation of its judgments. He noted that in many countries, citizens cannot approach the Court directly without state consent — a gap he believes undermines Africa’s human rights architecture.
Linking the issue to broader global shifts, Mr Mahama said Africa must reinforce its own democratic and legal institutions rather than rely on external benchmarks. He stressed that the Court should serve as a guardian of the ideals enshrined in the African Charter.
Drawing on personal experience, he reflected on his father’s detention during periods of military rule in Ghana, describing how such experiences shaped his commitment to justice and due process. He also highlighted Ghana’s contribution to the Court, referencing the service of Justice Sophia Akuffo, a former president of the Court, and Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei, who is currently serving a six-year term.
As the Court marks two decades of operation, Mr Mahama called for renewed political will across the continent to strengthen and elevate the institution into a leading international judicial body.