Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the nominee for Chief Justice of Ghana, has shared a heartfelt personal story during his vetting before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee, shedding light on the sacrifices he made early in his career to support his wife’s professional growth.
In an emotional recount, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie explained that he began his career with the Ghana Prisons Service in 1988.
“I joined the Ghana Prison Service in 1988, and I went six months military training, and I was posted to Secondi, that’s where I met my wife.”
At the time, she was just starting out as a junior officer without any formal rank, while he was advancing in his career.
He noted “At the time I met my wife, she was also bob no- rank person. She didn’t have any rank, actually, a sixth former who was then starting her career in the prison service.”
The nominee revealed that after two years of service, rules within the Prisons Service presented a challenge to their relationship.
“I was with the prison service for two years, till 1990 when we were told that I, as a deputy superintendent of prisons, couldn’t marry a junior officer because we couldn’t go to the mess together,” he said.
Faced with this career obstacle, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie made the difficult decision to leave the Prisons Service in 1990, prioritising his wife’s career and her continued service with the institution.
“So I opted out of prison service so that she could stay,” he emphasized.
The Chief Justice nominee wife, Mrs. Patience Baffoe‑Bonnie stands out as a high-ranking female official in Ghana’s prison/corrections service, combining legal training, operational experience and reform vision. Her career path makes her a prominent figure in Ghana’s public service and security sector.
In March 2025 she was appointed Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, making her the second woman to hold that position
