It was a sight to behold at the Supreme Court as acting Chief Justice, Justice Jones Victor Dotse broke down in tears at his last day at the apex Court. Justice Dotse who would be turning 70 on Thursday, June 8 had a valedictory ceremony in his Honour. While acknowledging the goodwill messages and tributes paid to him, Justice Dotse broke down in tears.
Jones Victor Mawulorm Dotse has also served on the Supreme Court of the Gambia and was appointed a judge of both courts in 2008. Dotse was born on 8 June 1953 and hails from Kpando in the Volta Region. He attended Kpando Secondary School from 1966 to 1971 and was educated at Accra Academy from 1971 to 1973. He studied law at the University of Ghana, Legon, graduating in June 1976 and was called to the Ghanaian Bar in November 1978.
Dotse worked as a State Attorney with the Attorney-General’s Department from 1979 to 1981. After this stint, he went into private practice. He founded Mawulorm Chambers in Ho in the Volta Region. He served as president of the Volta Region Branch of the Ghana Bar Association. He handed over Mawulorm Chambers to Ernest Gaewu.
Dotse became a high court judge in June 2002 and became a judge in the Court of Appeal on 16 September 2003. He was sworn in as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Gambia in February 2008 and in June of that same year became a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana.
He has attended and led courses and seminars in several countries including the United States, Canada, Nigeria, Liberia and Ghana. He also served as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Judicial Training Institute in Accra.
Dotse has been chairman of the board of Ho Technical University. He is currently chairman of the university council of the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho. Dotse is also chairman of the board of governors of Accra Academy
Following the retirement of Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah on 24 May 2023, Dotse became the acting Chief Justice. This is in accordance with article 144 (6) of the 1992 constitution which states that; in the event of the Chief Justice position being vacant or the Chief Justice not being able to administer his or her duties as Chief Justice, the most senior judge of the Supreme Court bench acts as the Chief Justice until a substantive Chief Justice is sworn into office. Dotse announced during a Supreme Court sitting on 5 April 2023 that he would be retiring on 8 June 2023.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh
