Justice Baffoe-Bonnie Confirmed as Chief Justice Despite Minority Objection
Parliament has approved Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana following his vetting by the Appointments Committee on Monday, November 10.
His confirmation on Thursday, November 13, comes after the Committee, by a majority decision, recommended the adoption of its report on the nominee.
Presenting the report to Parliament, the Committee Chairman, Bernard Ahiafor, stated that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie was found to possess “outstanding competence, a deep knowledge of the law, and a firm grasp of judicial ethics.”
He further noted that the nominee responded to questions from the Committee with “professionalism, clarity, and intellectual rigor,” demonstrating his ability to uphold the independence and integrity of the Judiciary.
“The Committee is satisfied that the nominee possesses the requisite qualifications, judicial temperament, and commitment to constitutional values expected of the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana,” Mr Ahiafor added.
Debate on the report saw sharp divisions between the Majority and Minority sides. While the Majority supported the motion for approval, the Minority opposed it and demanded a secret ballot to formally register their dissent.
Following deliberations, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin ruled in favour of the motion through a voice vote, declaring, “I think the ayes have it.”
However, the Minority challenged the ruling under Order 151(3), calling for a headcount and later a division — a procedure requiring all non-MPs to exit the chamber.
MP for Tolon, Habib Iddrisu, questioned the accuracy of the headcount, alleging that some non-MPs, including the Ashanti Regional Minister, remained seated during the process.
Despite the objection, the Speaker upheld the initial decision, affirming that “the ayes have it,” thereby confirming Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Ghana’s next Chief Justice.
