Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie is Chief Justice nominee
Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has revealed that he left the Ghana Prisons Service in 1988 after being informed that, as a Deputy Superintendent, he was not permitted to marry a junior officer.
He made this known during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, November 10, 2025.
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Baffoe-Bonnie explained that, faced with this restriction, he made the difficult decision to leave in order to be with the woman he loved.
“I joined the Ghana Prisons Service in 1988 and completed six months of military training. Following my training, I was posted to Sekondi, where I met my wife, who at the time had no rank and was a sixth former.
“I served with the Prisons Service for about two years until 1990, when I was informed that, as a Deputy Superintendent, I was not permitted to marry a junior officer. Since the rules would not allow us to be together, I decided to leave the service,” he noted.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie later transitioned to the judiciary, rising through the ranks to become a highly respected judge with years of experience at the Supreme Court.
He has reaffirmed his integrity and dedication to justice and fairness, highlighting that his 33 years of service in the judiciary reflect his integrity.
The nominee has appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for vetting ahead of his potential appointment as the next Chief Justice.
During the vetting, lawmakers are expected to examine his professional record, judicial philosophy, and vision for strengthening judicial independence and reforms within the judiciary.
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See the video below:
‘I opted out of the Prison Service so that she could stay.’ – Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie recounts how he met his wife while they were both in the Prison Service in Sekondi, sharing a personal moment during his appearance before the Vetting Committee.
Watch… pic.twitter.com/gN2LCioAfa
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) November 10, 2025
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