PROFILE OF HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE PAUL BAFFOE-BONNIE, THE CHIEF-JUSTICE DESIGNATE

 

President John Mahama, has today, nominated His Lordship Justice Paul Kwadwo Baffoe-Bonnie, the Acting Chief Justice for the substantive role.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie was appointed to the Supreme Court Bench on June 11, 2008 by President Kufuor, together with Justices Kwasi Anin Yeboah and Jones Mawulorm Dotse (both retired).

Internationally, he has participated in, and moderated several high-level conferences, including sessions of the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Cape Verde; as well as global judicial conferences in Egypt, Morocco, India, Scotland, and the United States.

Within the Judicial architecture, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie is highly regarded for his expertise in Constitutional Law, Taxation, Prison Administration, Election Law, and Legal Education.

He has been instrumental in several judicial reforms and continues to champion the cause of ethical practice and professional development within the Judiciary.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie has contributed significantly to Ghana’s legal literature on elections. He was part of the committee that produced the maiden edition of the Manual on Election Adjudication in 2008 and its revisions in 2012, 2016 and 2020.

In 2024, he chaired the committee that reviewed and published the comprehensive three-volume fifth edition.

Working as a professional jurist, he rose through the ranks of the Judiciary — humbly beginning as a Circuit Court Judge at Duayaw Nkwanta (1993-95) before moving to Kumasi (1995-2000).

His career advanced steadily when President Rawlings elevated him to the High Court in Sunyani (2000-2002), moved to Kumasi (2002–2003), and on the Fast Track High Court in Accra (2003–2006).

On November 22, 2006, President Kufuor appointed Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to the Court of Appeal. He had one of the briefest stay at the Court of Appeal bench serving for only 18 months.

Previously, he served as Secretary of the Association of Magistrates and Judges (2004–2006) and as the Chief Justice’s oversight representative for the Brong Ahafo, Western, and Central Regions between 2009 and 2013.

Currently, he chairs key bodies within the Judicial Service including the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council, the Election Management Committee, and the Finance Committee.

In 2013, Baffoe-Bonnie was on the panel of Supreme Court Judges who ruled against a petition brought before it by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), praying for annulment of some four million votes of the 2012 general elections for alleged tampering.

Born on December 26, 1956, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie is a distinguished Ghanaian jurist whose career spans more than four decades in Law, Public Service, and the Judiciary.

He had his basic education at Goaso Roman Catholic Primary & Middle Schools for his Middle School Leaving Certificate from 1962-1969.

He attended Konongo Odumase Secondary School (KOSS) where he obtained his GCE Ordinary Level & GCE Advanced Level certificates from 1969-1976.

Paul furthered to the University of Ghana for his undergraduate degree in Law (LL.B) completing in 1979; and later enrolled at the Ghana School of Law (GSoL) to pursue a professional law certificate (1979-1981).

He was called to the Bar in October 1983.

In the Law School, he was room-mates with the NPP’s Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John) and very close friends with former CJ Kwasi Anin Yeboah.

He referred to their relation as “a trio of village law students.”

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s rich professional background extends beyond the judiciary.

Prior to joining the bench, he worked as a Principal Inspector of Taxes at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Head of Legal for the Eastern and Volta Regions (1990-1992).

He also served as Deputy Superintendent of Prisons and Head of Legal at the Headquarters of the Ghana Prisons Service (1988-1990).

On April 22, 2025, he assumed role as Acting Chief Justice of Ghana.

Editor: Henry Henz