“Let Justice Not Tilt Toward the Powerful”: Mahama Charges New Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie
President John Dramani Mahama has formally sworn in Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Ghana’s 15th Chief Justice and immediately laid down a clear mandate: ensure the scales of justice never tip in favour of the wealthy or politically connected.
Speaking at the brief but solemn ceremony at the Jubilee House, President Mahama told the new CJ:
“I trust that under your stewardship, the Judiciary will ensure the protection of human rights and civil liberties and that justice is not tilted in favour of the wealthy or powerful.”
The President’s charge, delivered in front of the Council of State, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, and senior judges, was widely seen as a direct call to dismantle perceptions of a two-tier justice system that has dogged the judiciary in recent years.
Key Directives from the President
Strengthen specialised courts for family welfare, land disputes, commercial cases, environmental crimes, and corruption
Promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to reduce backlog and make justice faster and cheaper, especially at the community level
Transform the Judicial Training Institute into a centre of excellence for continuous judicial education
Make justice “seen, felt, and experienced in the daily lives of ordinary Ghanaians,” not just an abstract concept in law books
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, responding after taking the oaths of allegiance, secrecy, and judicial office, pledged an open, transparent, and people-centred judiciary:
“We will work to restore public confidence, clear the backlog, and ensure that no Ghanaian — rich or poor, powerful or powerless — is denied justice.”
The new Chief Justice assumes office at a pivotal moment:
Over 150 high-profile corruption and galamsey-related cases await trial
Public trust in the judiciary remains fragile after recent controversies
The Supreme Court faces a packed docket ahead of the 2028 elections
Legal analysts say President Mahama’s public charge sets the tone for an activist, reform-minded tenure under Baffoe-Bonnie — one that will be closely watched by both supporters and critics of the administration.
For now, the message from the Presidency is unambiguous: under this Chief Justice, justice must not only be done — it must be manifestly seen to be done, for every Ghanaian.
