Ghana’s Parliament has officially approved Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as the next Chief Justice, marking the conclusion of the formal process that began with his vetting by the Appointments Committee earlier this week.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie was vetted on November 10, and received parliamentary approval by majority decision on November 13, 2025, officially confirming his appointment as head of Ghana’s Judiciary.
“The Committee therefore recommends to the House, by majority decision, the adoption of the report for the approval of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana,” the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, announced.
He noted that the nominee exhibited “outstanding competence, deep knowledge of the law, and a firm grasp of judicial ethics.”
According to the Chairman, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie addressed the Committee’s questions with “professionalism, clarity, and intellectual rigor,” demonstrating his readiness to uphold the independence, integrity, and dignity of the nation’s highest court.
“The Committee is satisfied that the nominee possesses the requisite qualifications, judicial temperament, and commitment to constitutional values expected of the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana,” he added.
However, the parliamentary debate over his nomination grew contentious, with the Majority backing his approval and the Minority demanding a secret ballot to register their opposition.
In the end, Speaker Alban Bagbin settled the matter with a voice vote, declaring:
“Honourable Members, I think the ayes have it.”
The Minority Caucus, however, rejected the Speaker’s ruling, citing Order 151(3) to demand a more transparent headcount. The subsequent count recorded 163 votes in favour and 69 against.
Yet, Tolon MP Habib Iddrisu challenged the result, insisting on a division (a secret ballot), arguing that the headcount did not reflect the actual number of Members of Parliament present and that certain non-MPs, including the Ashanti Regional Minister, were still seated in the chamber during the exercise — a breach of parliamentary procedure.
“Mr Speaker, I made the application because I don’t believe it is the right number of MPs that stood up to vote ‘aye’. The Ashanti Regional Minister was still seated when he should have stepped out as a non-MP,” he protested.
Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie now succeeds Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, and is expected to bring his decades of experience from the Supreme Court to strengthen the Judiciary’s independence and efficiency.
