Ghana’s judicial community is preparing to bid a dignified farewell to Her Ladyship, Justice Rita Agyeman-Budu, on Saturday, November 22, 2025, with a memorial and burial service to be held at the United Church, Teshie-Nungua Estate.
Justice Agyeman-Budu passed away in July 2025, at the age of 64. Born on 19 September 1960 in Kumasi, she carved out a remarkable path in public service — from journalist and social entrepreneur to one of Ghana’s most respected High Court Judges.
Her legal career spanned more than two decades. She rose through the ranks, serving as a District Magistrate, a Circuit Court Judge, and eventually as a High Court Judge. During this time, colleagues and peers admired her for her dignity, firmness, and compassion. She was deeply involved in court reform and staff discipline, and was especially known for her pioneering work in gender-based violence courts in both Accra and Kumasi.
Internationally, Justice Agyeman-Budu made her mark through her leadership in the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ). Her roles there included serving as Assistant Secretary and later President of the Ghana Chapter. She also authored A Call for Justice, a drama first released in 2014 that was later adapted into a film and broadcast nationally — a powerful reflection of her commitment to justice, especially for women and girls.
Those she leaves behind include her husband, Kwame Agyeman-Budu, their three children, grandchildren, siblings, and a wide circle of colleagues, church members, and friends.
Her legacy is vast: a servant of justice who led with principle, empathy, and strength, and who has deeply influenced the Ghanaian legal system, national conversations on justice, and the lives of many — both within Ghana and on the international stage.
