Chief Justice commends Professor Akua Kuenyehia’s impact on legal education, gender equality

The Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has extolled the contributions of Professor Akua Kuenyehia to legal education, gender equality, and international justice.

Speaking at a special event held at the University of Ghana School of Law (UGSoL) on March 3, 2025, to publicly adopt the Gender Equality in Law Model Policy and honour Professor Kuenyehia with the African Women in Law Legacy Award, Justice Torkornoo described the honouree as a “profoundly empowering” force whose mentorship and leadership have shaped the legal profession in Ghana and beyond.

Recalling her first encounter with Professor Kuenyehia as a law student, Justice Torkornoo shared how the distinguished legal scholar and mentor greatly influenced her career.

She praised Professor Kuenyehia’s intellect, composure, and leadership, noting that her ability to balance academic, professional, and family responsibilities served as an inspiration for many young female lawyers.

“Her subsequent appointment as the first female dean of the Law Faculty stands as a testament to the respect and admiration she garnered among her predominantly male colleagues at the time,” Justice Torkornoo remarked.

“She taught us, more through example than speech, how a good lawyer works,” Justice Torkornoo said.

“She has demonstrated that every individual, regardless of gender, can attain their dreams and aspirations and that any undertaking can be raised to the stars with the utmost diligence,” the Chief Justice stated.

The event also marked a significant milestone in legal education with the public adoption of the Gender Equality in Law Model Policy by the University of Ghana School of Law in collaboration with the Institute for African Women in Law (IAWL).

This policy aims to mainstream gender equality within the legal profession by addressing key issues such as sexual harassment, equal hiring and promotion, equal pay for equal work, and the elimination of gender bias and stereotypes.

Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, congratulated Professor Akua Kuenyehia in her speech, emphasizing that the university takes great pride in her remarkable legacy.

Professor Akua Kuenyehia was presented with the African Women in Law Legacy Award in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to legal education, the rule of law, and women’s rights.

As President of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana), Professor Akua Kuenyehia fostered a collaborative work environment that encouraged young lawyers to excel.

Her advocacy for gender equality and women’s rights was a key theme of the event.

Over the years, she has been instrumental in promoting the rights of women through her work with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and other legal reforms in Ghana and Africa.



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Meanwhile, watch this Ghana Month special edition of People and Places as we hear the story of how the head of Kwame Nkrumah's bronze statue was returned after 43 years, below: