Her Ladyship Mrs. Justice Mabel Maame Agyemang

Location: Turks and Caicos Islands

Nationality: Ghanaian

Profession: Judge

Duration: 31 years (as of 2022)

Current Job Title: Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands

INTERVIEWER: Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your story and insights from your career with us.

CHIEF JUSTICE AGYEMANG: Pleased to be here.

INTERVIEWER: I know time is of the essence so I will get right into it.

Who were your heroes when you started out in your career? Were there any women who stood out for you? Why them?

When I became a lawyer, my role model was Mrs. Justice Cecilia Koranteng Addow, an excellent Ghanaian judge. I read her judgments with awe because she was so thorough in her work. Unfortunately, her commitment to justice cost her her life, but her legacy lives on as one who served well in the temple of justice.

Back then, what was the gender makeup of your profession? Was it male-dominated, balanced, female-dominated, or other (explain)?

It was very male-dominated. The women judges were very few and easily stood out, and they were sometimes, unfortunately, singled out more for criticism than for praise.

What is the landscape like today? Why do you think that is so?

The profession now has so many women judges that even the manner of address in court which was ‘His Lordship’ irrespective of gender, has now yielded to ‘Her Ladyship’ for women judges. In fact, in some countries of my acquaintance, there are now more women than men on the Bench.

So what exactly do you do as Chief Justice? What is a typical week like for you?

Typically, by 10:00 am (Monday-Friday), I would have sat on about 2-3 telephone meetings of importance to the institution that I oversee. Between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm, I am in court hearing cases and performing administrative duties. From 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, I take a break for dinner and time with my family, and then I pick up my work again from 8:00 pm to shortly after midnight. For health reasons, to be a better role model to my own family, and for my spiritual growth, I recently decided not to work on Saturdays. I have not always been successful in this, but by and large, it is working. Sunday mornings are reserved for church and family; I start work again from 7:00 pm to midnight. It's a schedule some may consider gruelling, but I enjoy my work and do not consider it a hardship.

What is the biggest challenge you have had to overcome on your journey?

When I started out, I found that it was a challenge to be taken seriously. I overcame this hurdle very early in my career by committing myself to diligent work. The schedule I described, though it has been modified over the years depending on my responsibilities, has more or less remained the same in terms of the hours I spend committing myself to my work.

Of course, we cannot go back in time, but if you could, is there anything you would do differently career-wise?

Yes, I think I would try to have a better work-life balance. I have found that a good career alone does not amount to a good life. It must be complemented by attention to other areas also, such as the nurture of one’s family, contribution to one’s community, and personal and spiritual growth.

What is your definition of success?

Success is being the best I can be and having no regrets that I could have done more.

What are your personal drivers?

My personal drivers? The desire to make a difference, to achieve excellence and to do so with integrity,

Using one word only, tell us - how do you want history to remember you? God-fearing

Looking back, would you say that the women around you helped you to rise? If yes - how?

Yes definitely. Take, for example, my mother, a learned woman of great principle. Her pride and joy in my achievements made me want to do more.

What advice would you give to the younger generation of women and girls; first, generally, and secondly, to those starting out in your profession?

I have a few insights I would like to share:

Your circumstances can be your excuse for mediocrity or even failure, or the driver to excellence, you get to choose.
Hard work will bring success and that, typically, is not gender-sensitive.
Do not, by your unwillingness to make personal sacrifices, create the circumstance that will make you envy or resent another, for what you could also have achieved.
No matter your circumstances, there is always a way to improve yourself; do not take the easy road.
Seek to achieve excellence in all you do, within your capabilities.
Place no limitations on yourself, but do not allow ambition to rule your life.
Commit yourself to your job - it is a privilege.
Do not let the attainment of success lead you, let it follow you; recognize that every task is a trust for which you will give an account first to yourself, to the community that gave you its trust, and to posterity.