The President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama (left) receives a souvenir combo carving of Tanzania’s ‘big five’ from the President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Justice Blaise Tchikaya, during the celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the Arusha-based Pan African judicial body last Monday. (Photo by Paul Mzungute).
BY SUKHDEV CHHATBAR
President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana has called on African Union (AU) member states to strengthen their support for the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR), warning that global democratic backsliding makes continental judicial institutions more essential than ever.
Delivering the keynote address at the official opening of the court’s 2026 Judicial Year and celebrations to mark its 20th anniversary held at its seat in Arusha, on March 2, President Mahama said Africa must no longer measure its democratic progress against standards set elsewhere that are themselves under strain.
“If you look beyond Africa, what you’ll find is that the façade of the so-called Global North… is fast crumbling,” he said, citing executive overreach, weakening legislative independence and restrictions on civil liberties in some countries long seen as democratic citadels.
Quoting Tanzania’s founding President, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, who said, “One does not judge one’s state of health by comparing it to a sick person,” President Mahama said the continent must define and defend its own governance standards through strong and independent institutions.
He urged AU member states that have not yet ratified the Protocol establishing the court to do so without delay and called on those that have ratified it to make the Declaration under Article 34(6) that allows individuals and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) direct access to the court.
“I assure you that you have nothing to fear from this court,” he told fellow leaders, appealing for full respect and implementation of the court’s judgements in good faith. “The effects of social injustice and human rights violations extend beyond individuals; they impact entire families and communities,” he explained.
Reflecting on his personal history, Mahama recounted how his father, a minister in Ghana’s first post-independence government, was detained following the 1966 coup d’etat and later forced into exile. He said those experiences shaped his lifelong belief in justice, due process and the rule of law.
In his remarks, the President of the Court, Justice Blaise Tchikaya, said the institution’s two decades of work demonstrate Africa’s determination to anchor governance in law rather than the use of force.
He noted that the court has developed a growing body of jurisprudence protecting fair trial rights, political participation, freedom of expression and protection against arbitrary detention.
Justice Tchikaya emphasised that the court’s effectiveness depends on the political will of member states to comply with its decisions and to broaden access to justice through wider ratification and acceptance of direct access by individuals.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Tanzania’s Deputy Minister, Ms Zainab Katimba, said Tanzania was proud to host the court in Arusha, describing the city as a symbol of Africa’s collective commitment to justice and human dignity.
Ms Katimba said Tanzania has already incorporated some of the court’s decisions into its national jurisprudence, underscoring the country’s commitment to aligning domestic legal systems with continental human rights standards.
She added that sustained cooperation between national courts and regional institutions was essential to strengthening constitutionalism and the rule of law across Africa.
