Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, currently serving as Acting Chief Justice, appeared before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday, 10 November 2025, to face vetting as President John Dramani Mahama’s nominee for the position of Chief Justice.
During the session, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie committed to strengthening the judiciary’s independence and ensuring that the law serves both the vulnerable and the powerful without fear or favour. He declared: “My task, if confirmed, is to ensure that the law remains both a shield for the weak and a restraint upon the powerful.”
He emphasised that access to justice should not depend on status or connections, stating: “If confirmed, I will stand with every judge, court user and citizen in the belief that access to justice should not depend on who you are or your connections.”
Addressing election-related judicial challenges, the nominee proposed changing Ghana’s general election date from 7 December to early November. He argued that such a move would give courts sufficient time to conclude election petitions well ahead of the January inauguration. He said: “The best suggestion that came up was to hold elections on November 7 or 8… This would allow the Electoral Commission and the courts time to manage results, petitions and rulings in a fair and transparent manner.”
The vetting session marked an important step in the constitutional process. Members of the Appointments Committee questioned Baffoe-Bonnie on his plans for judicial reforms, his views on digitalisation of court services, his stance on judicial ethics and discipline, and his approach to addressing backlogs in the courts.
A number of MPs raised concerns about pending queries on judges’ emoluments and the state of judicial infrastructure. The nominee replied that his focus would be on improving court facilities, enhancing case-management systems and stepping up training for judicial and administrative staff.
The nomination hearing or vetting was preceded by angry exchanges between the NDC majority and the NPP opposition leading to boycott of proceedings by the minority MPs on the appointments committee.
