Hard work pays – Justice Sophia Essah to women

A Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Sophia Essah, has urged women to persevere and work diligently in their chosen fields to achieve success.

According to her, women are expected to do double the job required in overcoming challenges and earning respect, particularly in male-dominated environments.

She said this during her appearance before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, August 13.

This was after the Judicial Council approved her, together with Prof. Richard Frimpong Oppong’s nomination for the Supreme Court Bench.

President Akufo-Addo announced the approval during the inauguration of the Governing Board of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre back on July 16, 2024.

Reflecting on her career experiences, the Supreme Court Judge nominee shared insights from her time as a lawyer and her roles in corporate settings before joining the bench.

She recounted, “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 Essah detailed her experiences working in predominantly male institutions, such as the Volta River Authority (VRA) and Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), where she was surrounded by mostly male engineers.

She stressed the necessity for women to understand and excel in their field to gain acceptance and respect.

“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,” she explained.

In her role on the bench, Justice Essah noted that diligence and commitment are crucial.

“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,” she said.

“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 Essah told young women aspiring to succeed that “…it’s hard work, and hard work pays.”

Source: myjoyonline