President John Dramani Mahama, has arrived in the United Republic of Tanzania to participate in the solemn opening of the 2026 Judicial Year of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, where he is expected to deliver the keynote address.

President Mahama landed at the Kilimanjaro International Airport on the eve of the ceremony and was received by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of Tanzania, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo

Also at the airport to receive the President was Ghana’s High Commissioner to Kenya, who is also accredited to Tanzania, H.E. Paul Evans Aidoo, and Supreme Court judge, Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, who is also a member of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights. 

President Mahama was accompanied by senior government officials, including Presidential Advisor Joyce Bawa Mogtari and the Legal Advisor to the President, Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew. 

The warm reception underscores the importance Ghana attaches to the continent’s premier judicial body for human rights.

President Mahama is scheduled to grace the ceremony as the Guest of Honour on Monday, 2nd March 2026, at the Kibo Hall within the Court’s premises in Arusha.

According to the official programme, President Mahama will arrive at the venue at 11:00 a.m. (East African Time).

He will first hold a meeting with the President of the African Court, Honourable Justice Blaise Tchikaya, before joining the formal proceedings. His keynote address is scheduled for 1:15 p.m., following the President of the Court’s reflections on the new judicial year and the milestone anniversary.

The ceremony, themed “20 Years of Service in Protecting Human and Peoples’ Rights in Africa,” will also officially launch the commemoration of the Court’s 20th anniversary. 

It will bring together a host of dignitaries from across the continent in a hybrid format, allowing for both in-person attendance and virtual participation via Zoom.

The programme will feature goodwill messages from a range of high-profile figures, including representatives of the host nation, the African Union Commission, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the United Nations.

A key highlight of the day will be the official launch of the Court’s new website, which will take place alongside the declaration opening the judicial year. The event will conclude with a vote of thanks by the Vice President of the Court, Honourable Lady Justice Chafika Bensaoula.

President Mahama’s presence and address are expected to reinforce Ghana’s longstanding commitment to the rule of law, human rights, and the strengthening of African Union institutions.