Paul Kwadwo Baffoe-Bonnie was born on 26th December 1956. He is a Ghanaian jurist who has served on Ghana’s Supreme Court since 2008.
According to GhanaRegions.com, he was the most senior justice on the court and became Acting Chief Justice in April 2025 following the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
In September 2025 President John Dramani Mahama forwarded his name as the substantive Chief Justice.
Early Life and Education
Paul Kwadwo Baffoe-Bonnie was born on 26 December 1956. His father, Opanyin Baffoe-Bonnie, hailed from Sewua in the Bosomtwe District of Ashanti Region, and his mother, Ama Kyerewaa, was from Breman in Kumasi.
He began his basic schooling in Goaso at local authority primary and middle schools, completing his middle school leaving certificate in the late 1960s.
He later attended Konongo Odumase Secondary School, where he obtained his GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level certificates in the period 1969–1976.
He then enrolled in the University of Ghana for his law degree and subsequently joined the Ghana School of Law, where he was called to the Bar in 1983.
Judicial Career
Early postings
After being called to the Bar, Baffoe-Bonnie joined the judiciary. He served as a Circuit Court judge (including in Kumasi) and later as a High Court judge (including at Duayaw Nkwanta). Over time, he gained experience and recognition in the judicial ranks.
Court of Appeal
He was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2006, where he adjudicated on appellate matters of significant complexity.
Supreme Court
In June 2008, he was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court. Over nearly two decades on the apex court, he served on numerous high-profile constitutional and public law panels, including the nine-member panel that adjudicated the 2012 presidential election petition, whose judgment was delivered in August 2013.
Acting Chief Justice and Nomination as Chief Justice
In April 2025, the then Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, was suspended pending investigation, and by virtue of his seniority, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie was appointed Acting Chief Justice, beginning around 22–23 April 2025.
On 23 September 2025, the President forwarded his name to the Council of State and parliamentary processes, nominating him as the substantive Chief Justice of Ghana, to replace Torkornoo following her removal.
Latest developments
- If confirmed, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie is expected to serve as Chief Justice until December 2026, when he will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70—thus amounting to about a one-year tenure in the position.
- His nomination has drawn attention because of the relatively brief period he would likely hold the office, prompting debate about whether the appointment is a transitional or stopgap measure.
- Observers have also noted that his long judicial record, reputation for diligence, and institutional seniority make him a steady choice in a period of judicial turbulence and public scrutiny of the judiciary.
- His wife, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, is the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service (appointed in March 2025).
Personal Life
He is married to Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, who oversees the Prisons Service. The couple share a public life, given her leadership role in corrections and his role in the judiciary.
Significance and Challenges Ahead
Paul Baffoe-Bonnie’s elevation comes at a critical moment for Ghana’s judiciary. After the suspension and removal of his predecessor, the institution is under pressure to reinforce credibility, independence, and stability. His advanced tenure and expected short service as Chief Justice may pose both opportunities and challenges:
- Opportunity: His experience, judicial gravitas, and long service could help steady the judiciary and restore public confidence.
- Challenge: The limited time in office constrains how much structural reform or legacy initiatives he may undertake.
- Expectation: Many legal actors will look to him to steer the judiciary through the transition, manage public expectations, and ensure that the process of confirmation is transparent and constitutionally sound.
