Yaw Adomako Baafi, a former Director of Communication of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said no serious country in the world would have appointed Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Chief Justice.
According to Yaw Adomako Baafi, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, during his vetting, admitted that he sentenced notorious armed robber Ataa Ayi to 70 years in prison because he feared for his safety and that of his family.
He argued that Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie’s decision to impose a lengthy prison sentence on Ataa Ayi out of fear made him unfit to lead Ghana’s judiciary.
Speaking in an interview on UTV’s Adekye Nsroma, Yaw Adomako Baafi argued, “First thing that tarnishes his image was his admission that he sentenced Ataa Ayi for more years due to fear for his life. If there is any serious country in this world, we wouldn’t have such a Chief Justice to lead the judiciary”.
He further questioned the circumstances surrounding the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, saying the development raises several questions.
It will be recalled that Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, who was then the Chief Justice nominee, revealed his reasoning behind sentencing notorious armed robber Atta Ayi to 70 years in prison.
According to Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the lengthy sentence for Atta Ayi was to protect his family.
He explained that if he had given Ataa Ayi 30 years, when he came back, his family would be the first the notorious armed robber would have attacked.
Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, November 10, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie explained, “I gave him 70 years. And what I told myself was that if Atta Ayi was given 30 years and he comes back, my family would be the first he would attack. By the time he comes back after 70 years, I will be dead and gone,” he said.
Meanwhile, Atta Ayi was labelled as Ghana’s most notorious at the time, with a bounty placed on him.
He masterminded numerous armed robberies, stealing money, cars, jewellery, and other valuables and also shot victims.
The Police, led by ACP Kofi Boakye, managed to arrest some members of his gang after fierce gun battles that left others dead.
Atta Ayi was later convicted on multiple counts and jailed in 2005.
According to reports, Atta Ayi has now been described as a changed man.
He has since been pleading with the government to grant him a pardon.
In related news, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has said calls by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to resign over his comments are disproportionate.
The Catholic Bishops highlighted that the Chief Justice’s comments during the engagements raised concerns about his neutrality and the political independence of the Judiciary, but calls for his resignation were disproportionate.
According to the Catholic Bishops, the available evidence does not establish that the Chief Justice is partisan or that the Judiciary has been compromised.
The Catholic Bishops also noted that the Chief Justice was entitled to visit public institutions, assess their performance and acknowledge improvements without such actions being considered improper.
They, however, argued that the Chief Justice’s reference to the “past eight years” could easily be interpreted within Ghana’s political context as a comparison between the current administration and its predecessor, adding that the comment could create an impression of political endorsement and undermine public confidence in the neutrality of the Judiciary.
Watch the video below:
“No serious country would have appointed Baffoe Bonney as Chief Justice after the Atta Ayi incident.” — Yaw Adomako Baafi#UTVGhana pic.twitter.com/JYZ5qgcq7J
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) September 7, 2026
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