Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the newly sworn-in Chief Justice, has pledged to champion a legal education system and judicial culture anchored in discipline, strong ethics, and unwavering devotion to justice.
He outlined a transformative vision aimed at strengthening both the quality and integrity of legal practice across the country.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie made these commitments at a colourful swearing-in ceremony held at the Jubilee House, where President John Dramani Mahama formally administered the oath of office.
Calling for a bold shift in Ghana’s legal education framework, he urged institutions to move “from exclusion to inclusion, from rote learning to critical thinking, and from credentialism to competence.” He stated that the judiciary would collaborate closely with the General Legal Council, the Ghana School of Law, and the nation’s law faculties to develop a training model that expands opportunity without compromising quality.
“Our goal is not merely to produce more lawyers, but better lawyers who are disciplined, ethical, and devoted to the cause of justice,” he emphasized.
Reflecting on his seven months of service as Acting Chief Justice, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said he had witnessed the “quiet strength” of judges and magistrates, the resilience of judicial service staff, and the enduring faith of citizens who continue to look to the courts as guardians of fairness. These experiences, he noted, deepened his sense of duty as he formally accepted the “sacred mandate” to lead the judiciary.
Standing before the President, he pledged to discharge his responsibilities “faithfully, independently, and with integrity,” stressing that the judiciary must remain not a citadel of privilege but a sanctuary where all—“the poor and the powerful alike”—can find refuge in the impartial majesty of the law.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie concluded by urging the judiciary and the nation to embrace renewal at what he described as a pivotal moment for Ghana’s democracy. “Today, history invites us to rise, not to repeat the past, but to redeem it,” he declared. “May this be remembered as the moment when Ghana’s judiciary, tested by terribleness, chose renewal over resentment, courage over complacency, and hope over fear.”
