A hushed sense of solemnity fell over the auditorium of the Jubilee House yesterday as President John Dramani Mahama swore in the new Chief Justice.
He becomes the country’s 28th Chief Justice and the ninth since the start of the Fourth Republic in January 1993.
The President described the investiture as “standing at the intersection of law, history and service.”
In a speech that was both a charge and a pledge, the President declared his “unwavering commitment” to the independence of the judiciary, affirming it as a vital pillar for the health of Ghana’s democracy.
“An independent judiciary is not a favour to the courts; it is a constitutional necessity and a protection for every citizen, including the President.
We must, therefore, jealously safeguard the institutional, financial and administrative autonomy of our courts,” President Mahama stated.
Investiture
Robed in a crisp red flowing gown, the sleeves trimmed halfway in golden satin, a red and gold scarf, cotton-white barrister bands, girded with a black sash and capped with a white silky wig, the new Chief Justice, stood as a symbol of the nation’s legal conscience, while the President, flanked by senior government officials and members of the Judicial Council, outlined a bold vision for a judiciary that should not only be independent, but also incorruptible, efficient and accessible to every Ghanaian.
The President led Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to swear the oath of allegiance, the judicial oath and the oath of secrecy before the packed audience, which included representatives of the three arms of government — the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary.
Present at the ceremony were the Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang; the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah; Secretary to the President, Callistus Mahama; the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, other ministers of state, senior government officials; the Judicial Secretary, Musah Ahmed, and the Chairman of the Council of State, Edward Doe Adjaho.
Also present were Justices of the Supreme Court, members of the Judicial Council, the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno; the Director of Prisons, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, who is also the wife of the new Chief Justice, among other heads of security services, as well as the National Chairman and Secretary of the National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and Fiifi Kwetey, respectively, family and friends of the Chief Justice.
President Mahama stated that the strength of Ghana’s democracy hinged on the “delicate, essential balance of powers” among the executive, legislature and judiciary.
“The Chief Justice is not only the head of the judiciary, but is also the symbol and herald of justice for our people,” President Mahama said.
Bedrock of rule of law
The President left no room for ambiguity regarding the Executive’s respect for judicial decisions.
“Decisions about cases, whether we agree or not, whether popular or unpopular, must be respected and enforced,” he stated, drawing nods of approval from the assembled judges and lawyers present.
“This is the bedrock of the rule of law,” President Mahama added.
Charge against corruption
Striking a sober tone, President Mahama directly addressed the vexed issue of restoring public trust in the justice system.
Against the backdrop of a national crest, he warned that a “single act of corruption by a judicial officer can erode public confidence in the entire system.”
President Mahama, therefore, charged the new Chief Justice to lead a crusade for integrity, calling for transparent case assignment, strong internal mechanisms to sanction misconduct, and a culture where “ethical conduct is supported and wrongdoing is swiftly sanctioned.”
“Our citizens must know and feel that justice in Ghana is not for sale,” he asserted, a line that prompted a murmur of agreement across the room.
Making justice accessible
The President painted a vivid picture of the challenges facing ordinary Ghanaians seeking justice, describing courtrooms as “places of frustration, rather than places of hope” due to delays, complex procedures and cost.
President Mahama urged a judicial revolution focused on “innovative case management systems,” the expansion of court infrastructure into remote districts, and the embrace of technology such as e-filing and virtual hearings to clear backlogs and simplify procedures.
“As government, we recognise our responsibility to provide adequate resources to support these reforms,” he pledged.
“While fiercely guarding judicial independence, the President noted the need for cooperation, describing the administration’s readiness to work with the judiciary in the spirit of consultation and respect,” the President stated.
President Mahama gave a personal charge to the new Chief Justice to lead with “courage, integrity, diligence, humility and fairness.”
“Posterity will remember you not just as a Chief Justice, but as a Chief Justice who made a significant difference,” he said.
Courts’ sacred duty
With a deep sense of humility, he assumed his solemn responsibility with gratitude to God and all arms of government that played a part in his investiture as the Chief Justice.
“I recognise that every court in our land, from the smallest magistrate court to the highest tribunal, holds a sacred duty to ensure that the rights, liberties and human dignity of Ghanaians were respected and protected.
“It is not the law alone that matters, but how the law is applied, how justice is dispensed and how courts earn the confidence of the people,” the Chief Justice said.
He added that the judiciary served a nation built on the 1992 Constitution, “which enshrines not only rights but also responsibilities,” and that “our judiciary must be independent, impartial and accessible.”
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie also stressed that the judiciary must not serve the powerful or the connected at the expense of the weak and the vulnerable.
It must also resist any incursions on its freedoms, but also embrace accountability, transparency and continuous reform.
Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said he would confront head-on concerns about delays, access and perceptions of fairness, saying “the judiciary must not only be seen to be fair, but must be fair, clearing backlogs, reforming processes, promoting alternative dispute resolution where appropriate, harnessing technology and ensuring that ordinary citizens can avoid the courts with confidence”.
“These are not optional add-ons, but they are imperatives,” he stressed.
Vision
Outlining his vision for the judiciary, Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said it would be a service-oriented institution, “courts that are efficient, transparent and respectful, respectful of all persons, judges and staff who uphold high ethical standards, treat litigants with dignity and apply the law without fear or favour.”
It would also be a judiciary that works not for political ends, but for the cause of justice, he added.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie also pledged to support the uplifting of court infrastructure, the continuing training of judges and staff, the deployment of information and communication technologies to improve case flow and increase outreach to ensure that the judiciary’s work was better understood and trusted.
Profile
The Judicial Secretary, Musah Ahmed, who introduced Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, before he took the oath of office, gave a brief narrative of his career, from his beginnings as a Circuit Court Judge, his elevation to the High Court at Duayaw Nkwanta, to his appointment to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in 2006 and 2008, respectively.
“He started as a judge in the Circuit Court. His formidable commitment to legal service and procedural integrity compelled his elevation to the High Court.
“This was followed by an appointment to the Court of Appeal in 2006. His legal arguments gained national recognition, leading President John Agyekum Kufuor to elevate him to the Supreme Court in June 2008, where he has proudly served for over 17 years,” the Judicial Secretary said.
The Judicial Secretary noted that the Chief Justice had ruled on several notable cases that had made history.
“He was part of the panel for the 2013 presidential election petition. He also presided over landmark cases.
His decision was instrumental in shaping judicial precedent on financial accountability and state institutions.
His expertise was further reinforced in station boundary and mutation cases, demonstrating a strong interest in legal reforms,” Mr Ahmed said.
The Judicial Secretary said throughout his tenure as a Justice of the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court, he had been a scourge to delays in justice.
Reforms
The Chief Justice has also spearheaded judicial reforms, which led to the implementation of measures to reduce case backlog and enhance our court system’s efficiency.
Mr Ahmed added that the “most qualified and debated candidate for the position of Chief Justice is no other person than Justice Baffoe-Bonnie.”
“He is qualified to lead Ghana’s judiciary. His extensive experience, devoted commitment to reform, and profound understanding of our legal system make him the ideal person to become the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana,” he said.
