The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has formally referred the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Ghana’s next Chief Justice to the Parliament’s Appointments Committee for screening.
This action comes after President John Mahama proposed Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s appointment, a decision announced on Tuesday, September 23.
The nomination aligns with Article 144(1) of the 1992 Constitution, following the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
In a brief statement on Tuesday, October 21, the Speaker noted that Parliament had received official communication from the Presidency regarding the nomination and, following established procedures, had forwarded it to the Appointments Committee for review.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, who is presently serving on the Supreme Court, is recognized for his extensive and distinguished legal career, including prior roles at the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
The Appointments Committee is expected to arrange a public vetting process shortly, after which it will make a recommendation to the full House for approval or rejection.
If confirmed by Parliament, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie will succeed Justice Gertrude Torkornoo as Ghana’s Chief Justice.
Background:
Ghana’s Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo was suspended by President John Mahama in April 2025 following three petitions alleging misconduct against her.
This marked the first suspension of a sitting chief justice in Ghana’s history and sparked political controversy, raising concerns about judicial independence.
The petitions, initially kept confidential but later shared with Torkornoo, accused her of unspecified misconduct.
A five-member committee was appointed to investigate the allegations.
The suspension and removal process was challenged by Torkornoo as she filed a lawsuit at the ECOWAS Community Court, claiming her human rights were violated by being removed without a final determination.
She publicly criticized the removal process for breaking legal norms and potentially harming the integrity of Ghana’s judicial system.
Following the suspension, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie was nominated by President Mahama to succeed her as Chief Justice, with the nomination currently undergoing parliamentary vetting.
Source: www.Kumasimail/Kwadwo Owusu
