Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Sophia Essah, has called on women to persevere and demonstrate diligence in their respective professional fields to achieve success.
Addressing the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, August 13, Justice Essah emphasized that women must often perform twice as well as their male counterparts to overcome challenges and earn respect, particularly in male-dominated environments.
“As my CV shows, I have been a state attorney and worked in corporate before joining the bench. At the beginning, you go through, I say some slight, I won’t say bullying, but you are not taken seriously.
“And so as a woman, you need to actually work hard to make sure you are on top of your area of expertise to be able to deliver advice which cannot be challenged.”
Justice Sophia Essah, Court of Appeal Judge
Reflecting on her professional journey, Justice Essah shared that her career has been marked by a series of challenges, particularly as she navigated predominantly male-dominated institutions.
However, Justice Essah highlighted the importance of perseverance and dedication, especially for women striving to excel in such environments.
Justice Essah recounted her experiences working in environments where she was often surrounded by male colleagues, particularly during her time with the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). In these roles, she worked alongside mostly male engineers, an experience that required her to work exceptionally hard to gain their respect and acceptance.
Justice Essah’s emphasis on the necessity of mastering one’s field to gain acceptance was a central theme of her address. She stressed that understanding the technical aspects of the work and providing sound legal advice that is appreciated and accepted by colleagues is vital for women in such male-dominated environments.
“You need to work extra hard to make sure that you first understand the work of the institution, the engineering aspect, to be able to give legal advice, which they would appreciate, understand, and accept. So I would say it is a lot of hard work.”
Justice Sophia Essah, Court of Appeal Judge
Justice Essah’s appearance before the committee followed the approval of her nomination, along with that of Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong, for the Supreme Court bench.
The Judicial Council’s endorsement of their nominations was announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the inauguration of the Governing Board of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre on July 16, 2024.
Diligence on the Bench
Justice Essah also spoke candidly about the rigorous demands of her role as a judge, where diligence and commitment are paramount.
“On the bench as well, you cannot afford to be indolent. You must work very hard, spend sleepless nights trying to understand the brief or the case, doing serious research on your own in order to be able to render good judgments at all times.
“Then you will begin to gain the respect of your peers and others who may become exposed to either your ruling, your decision, or your advice.”
Justice Sophia Essah, Court of Appeal Judge
Justice Essah’s experiences serve as a powerful reminder that success in any field, especially for women, requires an unwavering commitment to excellence. Her words of encouragement to young women aspiring to succeed were particularly poignant: “…it’s hard work, and hard work pays.”
Justice Essah’s nomination to the Supreme Court is a testament to her dedication, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to her profession. Her journey from a state attorney to a corporate lawyer, and eventually to the bench, illustrates the challenges that women face in their professional lives, particularly in male-dominated environments.
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