President John Dramani Mahama has called on African countries to allow citizens and civil society organisations to take cases directly to the continent’s human rights court, saying governments have nothing to fear from wider access to justice.

Delivering a keynote address at the opening of the judicial year of the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, Mr Mahama urged member states of the African Union that have not yet made the required declaration to do so without delay.

“I humbly ask all African nations and individuals to respect and implement the court's judgments in good faith and to also make the declaration to allow individuals and non-governmental organisations direct access to this court,” he said.

Mr Mahama also addressed concerns among some governments, stating: “To my colleagues, heads of states in these countries, I assure you that you have nothing to fear from this court.”

He made the remarks on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Arusha, where he was the guest of honour at the opening of the court’s 2026 judicial year and the launch of its 20th anniversary.

The proposal seeks to address a gap in Africa’s human rights system, where individuals in many countries cannot directly seek redress at the continental court without state approval.

Mr Mahama said the court’s effectiveness depends not only on access but also on whether member states comply with its decisions.

“We must empower the Court to be the institution that stands guard over those ideals,” he said, referring to the rights set out in the African Charter.

He linked his position to wider concerns about weakening protections globally, noting that reliance on external standards for democracy and the rule of law is becoming less dependable.

“For far too long, we compared ourselves to the West and used what we believe were their standards as our benchmarks,” he said, adding that recent developments show those standards are “fast crumbling”.

Mr Mahama said Africa must strengthen its own institutions, with the court playing an oversight role across the continent’s 55 countries.

He also referred to his personal experience, recalling that his father was detained on several occasions during periods of military rule in Ghana.

“I remain the child whose father was detained for serving his country and advising its leader,” he said, explaining how the experience shaped his views on justice and due process.

Mr Mahama said the effects of injustice extend beyond individuals to families and communities, underlining the need for an independent continental body.

He noted Ghana’s contribution to the court, citing the service of Justice Sophia Akuffo, a former president of the court, and Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei, who is currently serving a six-year term.

As the court marks 20 years of operation, Mr Mahama urged African states to strengthen their support for the institution.

“Now is the time to deepen our commitment to the courts,” he said, adding that the institution must grow into a leading international judicial body in the years ahead.