Ghana has honoured one of its most influential legal pioneers, Justice Annie Ruth Jiagge, by featuring her portrait on the newly introduced GH¢10 banknote under the Bank of Ghana’s Cedi Heritage Series.
The celebrated jurist, who lived from 1918 to 1996, is being recognised for her outstanding contributions to Ghana’s judiciary, women’s empowerment and the advancement of gender equality.
Born Annie Ruth Baeta on October 7, 1918, in Lomé, then part of French Togoland, Jiagge began her professional journey in education before pursuing a career in law.She obtained her teaching certificate from Achimota School in 1937 and subsequently worked as a teacher and headmistress. She later studied law at the London School of Economics and was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1950.
Her legal career was marked by several historic achievements. In 1953, she became a magistrate before rising to become a Circuit Court judge in 1959 and Ghana’s first female High Court judge in 1961.In 1969, she joined the Court of Appeal and, in 1980, made history again by becoming its first female president, a position she held until her retirement in 1983. Beyond the courtroom, Justice Jiagge was a passionate advocate for women’s rights. She served on the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women from 1962 to 1972 and became its president in 1968.
She also played a significant role in developing the 1967 United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, which helped advance international efforts to promote gender equality.
In Ghana, she contributed to the establishment of the National Council on Women and Development in 1975, an institution created to promote women’s welfare, participation and economic advancement. Her remarkable contributions earned her several honours, including Ghana’s Grand Medal and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Ghana.
The new GH¢10 banknote features her portrait on the front, while the reverse showcases Ghana’s Supreme Court building alongside the Adinkra symbol Epa, representing law and justice.The redesigned note forms part of the Bank of Ghana’s Heritage Series, which celebrates distinguished personalities, historic landmarks and cultural symbols that have shaped the country’s identity. Justice Annie Jiagge died on June 12, 1996, in Accra, but her legacy continues to inspire generations of women and aspiring legal professionals across Ghana and beyond.
Her appearance on the new banknote serves as a lasting tribute to a woman whose courage, professional excellence and commitment to justice helped break barriers in Ghana’s legal history.
