TRIBUTE In Honour of the Memory of HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE ELLEN VIVIAN AMOAH
When I began sitting in the court, I carefully reviewed several of the rulings and judgments she had delivered. I also examined portions of the record books she had meticulously maintained.
Today, with a heavy heart, I pay tribute to the memory of a colleague and sister on the Bench, Her Ladyship Justice Ellen Vivian Amoah , whose passing has left a profound void within our judicial family.
In January 2023, barely a month after my elevation to the Court of Appeal, I was directed by His Lordship the Chief Justice to sit as an Additional High Court Judge in Financial Court 1—now General Jurisdiction Court 14. That court was the substantive court of Her Ladyship Justice Ellen Vivian Amoah, who had been unwell for some time. I was asked to hold the fort until she resumed her duties.
Before I commenced sitting, I placed a telephone call to Her Ladyship to inform her of my assignment. That conversation remains vivid in my mind. She was gracious, pleasant, and remarkably cooperative. Despite her condition, she took the time to update me on pending matters and to provide helpful insight into cases that were part-heard or awaiting ruling. That gesture alone spoke volumes about her sense of duty and her deep commitment to judicial responsibility.
When I began sitting in the court, I carefully reviewed several of the rulings and judgments she had delivered. I also examined portions of the record books she had meticulously maintained. What I encountered strengthened my respect for her. I found a judge who was diligent, thorough, disciplined, and intellectually honest. Her work bore the mark of careful reflection. Her reasoning was structured and principled. Her decisions were firmly anchored in statute and precedent. She was not a judge who took shortcuts. She laboured conscientiously over her work.
Later, when she resumed duty and we alternated in the court, I had the opportunity to engage her personally. Those interactions confirmed the high opinion I had formed. Her Ladyship was disciplined, morally upright, and guided by a quiet but firm sense of judicial integrity.
Integrity is the lifeblood of the Bench. It is the invisible pillar that sustains public confidence in the administration of justice. I bear witness that Justice Ellen Vivian Amoah was true to her judicial oath. She did not entertain, nor did she permit, any appearance that could detract from the dignity of her office. She maintained proper boundaries with court users and staff alike. She avoided any conduct that might compromise, or even appear to compromise, her independence and impartiality.
She loved her work. She was deeply committed to her calling. She treated her judicial function not as a mere occupation, but as a sacred trust. Her courtroom demeanour reflected seriousness of purpose, fairness of mind, and fidelity to the law. Her decisions were grounded in legal principle. Her conduct was anchored in honour.
It is profoundly sad that we must now speak of her in the past tense. Her passing is devastating. The Judiciary has lost a hardworking and devoted judge. We have lost a sister whose life on the Bench exemplified service, discipline, and integrity.
The true measure of a judge lies in faithfulness to the oath to do right to all manner of persons, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. In that regard, I am satisfied in my conscience that Her Ladyship Justice Ellen Vivian Amwa served faithfully and honourably.
May the Almighty God grant eternal rest to her soul.
May perpetual light shine upon her.
May the Lord receive her into the bosom of Father Abraham, where the just find peace.
Farewell, our sister. Your labour on the Bench is ended, but your example endures.
Justice Dr Ernest Owusu-Dapaa, JA
Court of Appeal
Additional High Court Judge, GJ 14
