Ghana has lost one of its revered legal minds with the passing of retired Supreme Court Justice Nasiru Sulemana Gbadegbe. He died on Saturday, April 5, 2025, after a brief illness. He was 74.
Justice Gbadegbe’s legal career spanned decades, marked by dedication to judicial ethics and respect for the rule of law.
His service at the Supreme Court began in 2009 and ended on December 8, 2020, when he retired upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Before his elevation to the highest court, he spent a decade as a Justice of the Court of Appeal from 1999 to 2009. His judicial journey began even earlier, serving as a High Court judge between 1989 and 1999.
He was among the panel of nine judges who presided over the landmark 2012/2013 presidential election petition—a case that tested the strength and impartiality of Ghana’s judiciary.
Within the legal community, he earned a reputation as a firm advocate for ethical practice and procedural discipline. Colleagues often recalled his insistence that lawyers uphold the highest standards of the profession.
During his retirement ceremony in December 2020, then Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah praised him for his unwavering commitment to service and for upholding the integrity of the judiciary throughout his career.
