President Mahama Nominates Justice Baffoe-Bonnie for Chief Justice Role
President John Dramani Mahama has nominated Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie for the position of the substantive Chief Justice.
This was announced in a statement issued by Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, on Tuesday, September 23.
“President John Dramani Mahama has in accordance with Article 144(1) of the 1992 Constitution, forwarded the name of His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to the Council of State for consideration as Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana. Justice Baffoe-Bonnie has, throughout his distinguished judicial career, served with diligence and integrity at the High Court, the Court of Appeal, and currently, the Supreme Court.
“He has made invaluable contributions to the development of Ghanaian jurisprudence. He has earned the esteem of the Bench, the Bar, and the wider legal fraternity for his intellect, impartiality, and unwavering commitment to justice.
“His wealth of experience and long service on the Bench render him eminently qualified for the high office of Chief Justice. His Lordship has been serving as Acting Chief Justice since 22nd April 2025.”
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie was appointed to serve as acting Chief Justice of Ghana following the suspension of Gertrude Torkornoo on April 23. Baffoe-Bonnie stepped in because of his seniority on the Supreme Court Bench.
Biography
Paul Kwadwo Baffoe-Bonnie (born 26 December 1956) is a Ghanaian Supreme Court Judge.
Early life and education
Baffoe-Bonnie was born on 26 December 1956. His primary school education was at the Goaso Local Authority primary and middle schools, completing his Middle School Leaving Certificate examinations in the late 1960s. He attended Konongo Odumase Secondary School where he obtained his GCE Ordinary Level and GCE Advanced Level certificates from 1969 to 1976. He then attended the University of Ghana and later the Ghana Law School.
In law school, he was room-mates with NPP politician, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie and very good friends with former Chief Justice of Ghana, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, he referred to the three of them forming “a trio of village law students”.
Career
Baffoe-Bonnie was called to the Bar in Ghana in 1983. He worked as a Circuit Court Judge at Kumasi. He served as High Court Judge at Duayaw Nkwanta. He was appointed an Appeals Court judge in 2006. He was appointed a Supreme Court Judge by the President of Ghana John Kufuor in June 2008.
Election petition
In 2013, Baffoe-Bonnie was on the panel of Supreme Court Judges who ruled against a petition brought before it where the New Patriotic Party asked for about four million votes to be scrapped for alleged tampering in the 2012 Ghanaian general election.
Personal life
Baffoe-Bonnie’s parents are Opanyin Baffoe-Bonnie from Sewua in the Bosomtwe district and Ama Kyerewaa from Breman in Kumasi.
Credit: Laud Nartey
