Circuit Court Judge Sedinam Awo Kwadam, an alumna of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Faculty of Law, has made history at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) by achieving the highest Grade Point Average ever recorded in the institution's Master of Laws (LL.M.) programme.

Judge Kwadam graduated as Valedictorian of GIMPA's 2025 Masters' Cohort with an exceptional GPA of 3.98 out of 4.00, setting a new benchmark for academic excellence at the institution. She became the first valedictorian in GIMPA's International Criminal Law and Justice programme, graduating with distinction.

At GIMPA's 25th Congregation held on Friday, July 25, 2025, Judge Kwadam received multiple prestigious honors including the Valedictorian award for the 2025 GIMPA Masters Program, Best Graduate Student for GIMPA Law School, Dean's Excellence Award for the best student in the Master of Laws programme, and the Fatou Bensouda Prize for the best student in the LL.M. International Criminal Law and Justice.

"I must confess that my time at GIMPA has been nothing short of restorative. This Green Hill has been more than a place of learning for me," Judge Kwadam said during her Valedictorian speech, describing her academic journey as one of "immeasurable sacrifice, perseverance, and triumph."

She described the past year as a period of "intense intellectual challenge and transformation" characterized by "rigorous research, tight deadlines, critical discourse, policy debates, and profound academic experiences."

Judge Kwadam, a 2002 alumna of Achimota School, earned her LLB from KNUST and was called to the Ghana Bar in 2012, where she was honored as Best Student in Law of Evidence. Her academic excellence has been consistent throughout her educational journey.

The accomplished jurist brings more than 13 years of legal practice to her latest academic achievement, with 10 years dedicated to judicial service. She was appointed as a Magistrate in 2015 and elevated to the Circuit Court in 2020, demonstrating her commitment to the administration of justice.

During her LL.M studies at GIMPA, Judge Kwadam conducted significant research in international criminal law, focusing on Africa's engagement with the International Criminal Court (ICC), U.S. resistance to international criminal justice, and the Malabo Protocol. These research areas reflect contemporary challenges in international criminal law and justice.

In her Valedictorian address, Judge Kwadam emphasized the responsibility that comes with academic achievement. "The degrees we have earned today are not mere credentials; they are a summons. A call to lead with courage, compassion, and conviction," she told her fellow graduates.

She stressed the interconnectedness of graduates with their communities, stating: "We are inextricably connected to our community, our nation, and the world at large. This interconnectedness compels us to act with purpose, grounded in GIMPA's enduring values of excellence, integrity and service."

"GIMPA has not merely educated us; it has commissioned us to serve a world urgently in need of all that we are, and all we have become," she said.

The Faculty of Law at KNUST has expressed pride in Judge Kwadam's historic achievement, noting that it reflects the quality of legal education provided by the institution and serves as an inspiration for current and future law students.