CHIEF JUSTICE MABEL AGYEMANG

Mabel Maame Agyemang, has established herself as a distinguished judicial figure, currently holding the esteemed position of Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands. With a career spanning several decades, she has garnered expertise and acclaim in the field of law, serving in various capacities within the judiciaries of Ghana, The Gambia, and Eswatini before assuming her current role.

Agyemang's journey into law began with her secondary education at Wesley Girls Senior High School in Cape Coast, Ghana. She pursued her higher education at the University of Ghana and furthered her legal studies at the Ghana School of Law, where she completed the Professional Law Course.

Following her admission to the Ghanaian Bar in 1987, Agyemang embarked on a distinguished judicial career. She served in numerous judicial roles across various jurisdictions in Ghana, including Accra, Cape Coast, Koforidua, Kumasi, and Tema. Her contributions to the legal profession were further recognized when she assumed the vice-presidency of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana from 1996 to 2000. In 2002, she was elevated to the High Court, marking a significant milestone in her career.

Agyemang's expertise extended beyond national borders when she commenced her tenure as a Commonwealth Secretariat Judge in 2004. Initially stationed in The Gambia, she served as a High Court judge for four years, handling a diverse array of cases across multiple legal domains. Subsequently, she was seconded to Eswatini for two years, where she continued to adjudicate on a wide range of legal matters, including notable cases pertaining to human rights and education.

In 2010, Agyemang returned to The Gambia as an expert Appeal Court Judge under the Commonwealth Secretariat. Her exemplary judicial acumen led to her appointment as Chief Justice of The Gambia in August 2013, becoming the first woman to hold such a position in the country's history. However, her tenure was abruptly cut short in February 2014, with her dismissal attributed to alleged disagreements over human rights issues and the preservation of judicial independence.

Undeterred by this setback, Agyemang returned to Ghana, where she assumed the role of Justice of the Court of Appeal. Her commitment to upholding the principles of justice and integrity earned her widespread recognition within the Ghanaian judiciary, with President John Dramani Mahama citing her as an exemplar of judicial excellence.

In February 2020, Agyemang's illustrious career reached another milestone when Nigel Dakin, Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, announced her appointment as Chief Justice of the territory. Recognized for her unwavering integrity and courageous stance against autocratic regimes, Agyemang's leadership has brought about significant reforms aimed at enhancing access to justice and improving the efficiency of the judicial system in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Despite facing challenges and adversity throughout her career, Agyemang's unwavering dedication to the rule of law and judicial excellence continues to leave an indelible mark on the legal profession.

REFERENCE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabel_Agyemang#:~:text=An%20expert%20superior%20court%20judge,Chief%20Justice%20of%20The%20Gambia.