By: Jones Anlimah
The Chiefs and People of Abutia Traditional Area in the Ho West District of the Volta Region have held a Durbar in honour of Justice of the Supreme Court, His Lordship Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu for his elevation to the Supreme Court of Ghana.
Speaking at the Durbar, a retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Jones Dotse, called on people of Abutia and the region at large to support him discharge his duties without any internal or external interferences and influence.
Justice Ernest Gaewu was born in Ho, but hails from Abutia in the Ho West District of the Volta Region. He attended Awudome Senior High School for his ‘O’ Level education and Mawuli School for his ‘A’ Levels.
He then proceeded to the University of Ghana in 1995 to study law. After completing his law degree, he attended the Ghana School of Law and was called to the bar in 2000.
Justice Gaewu worked at Mawulorm Chambers in the Volta Region under the leadership of retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Jones Dotse and rose to become the head of the chambers in 2009 through hard work and commitment to duty.
From 2012 to 2015, Justice Gaewu served as the Assistant Secretary and then Secretary of the Volta Bar Association, as well as a member of the National Council of the Ghana Bar Association. He was also the Bar’s representative at the Volta Prison Council and served for two terms.
He also served on various boards and committees, including the Disciplinary Committee of Volta GFA, the Ho Teaching Hospital Board, the then Ho Polytechnic Entity Committee, and the Entity Committee of the University of Health and Allied Sciences.
After working in private practice for about two decades, Justice Gaewu was appointed Justice of the High Court.
He was nominated together with three additional Justices to the apex court by President Nana Akufo-Addo on 4 July 2022.
Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu was sworn into office as Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana on 5th April 2023 by President Nana Akufo Addo after he was vetted by the Appointment Committee of Parliament.
The Durbar by the Chiefs and People of Abutia Traditional Area attracted politicians, friends and family members, former work Colleagues and members of the Bar.
The Paramount Chief and President of Abutia Traditional Council Togbega Abutia Kodzo Gidi V, thanked the President for believing in the competence which resulted in the appointment of Justice Gaewu to the country’s apex court.
He called on Justice Gaewu to discharge his duties impartially and be a source of pride to the community and the Volta Region as a whole.
“We are grateful for the foresight and the President for his trust in the abilities of His Lordship Justice Gaewu. I therefore implore your Lordship to consider mentoring and guiding our youth from Abutia who are aspiring to follow in your footsteps to pursue careers in law. Your guidance will pave the way for a brighter future for our community and the nation”, Togbega said.
“Your Lordship the enormity of the task ahead of you is not lost on us so we the good people of Abutia assure you of our continue support and prayers as you embark on this phase of your legal career” he added
A retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Jones Dotse commended Justice Gaewu on his elevation and called on the region and indigenes of Abutia to support him succeed on his duties as a Supreme Court Judge.
“I am therefore hopeful that no interference or whatsoever would be put in his way for him to display the principles I have known him to stand for and to do according to the Judicial Oath that he has taken. The work of a Judge is very difficult. He needs your prayers, he needs your support and I pray that you continue to hold him in high esteem as you have done by coming to this event” Justice Dotse said.
Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu expressed gratitude to the Chiefs and People of the Area and called on especially the youth to be disciplined and committed adding that these are the surest way to reach ones goals in life.
He reiterated call on the public to stop enticing judges to alter the course of justice.
“Allow judges to do their work. Judges are not corrupt . It is the members of the public who try to corrupt judges. Leave the judges to do their work. We Judges, we do our work with clear conscience and clear mind. So I invite your for your prayers. Anytime you are going to bed, say a word of prayer for me because like I said the work of the Judge is very difficult”, Justice Gaewu said.
“Everybody is in God’s mind. What you have to do is that you just have to be discipline, obedient and you will discover your own true talent” he added.
The Paramount Chief and President of the Abutia Traditional Council, Togbega Abutia kodzo Gidi V, led other dignitaries to break grounds for the construction of multi purpose structure for the Traditional Council.
