Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie Pledges to Uphold Rule of Law and Protect Judicial Independence
Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Baffoe- Bonnie- Photo credit The Presidency.
Accra, Ghana- During his swearing-in at the Presidency on Monday, November 17 as the new Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Baffoe- Bonnie, said he was assuming the role with a deep sense of duty to the Constitution. He assured the President that he would remain committed to upholding the rule of law, maintaining the separation of powers, and safeguarding constitutional order.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie stressed that the judiciary must remain free from undue interference. According to him, judicial independence must go hand in hand with accountability, as independence without responsibility can lead to complacency and weaken public confidence.
He also outlined the standards he expects within the justice system. Judges and court staff, he said, will be encouraged to act ethically, treat everyone fairly, and remember that being a judge is a service to the public, not a status symbol.
Speaking about the experiences of those who seek justice, he noted that every person who enters a courtroom carries hopes and expectations. He pledged to protect those hopes and ensure the courts remain a place where justice is truly accessible.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie further called on lawyers, litigants, civil society groups, and the public to collaborate with the judiciary in building a system worthy of national trust.
Addressing the long-debated issue of legal education, he said reform could no longer be avoided. He emphasized the need to shift toward more inclusive and competence-based training rather than relying solely on memorization or credentials.
He added that the judiciary would collaborate with the General Legal Council, the Ghana School of Law, and law faculties to improve the training of future lawyers. The aim, he said, is not just to increase the number of lawyers but to produce practitioners who are better trained, ethical, and committed to justice.
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