Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the Chief Justice nominee, has stated he deserves the Chief Justice position.
Baffoe-Bonnie, during his vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday, November 10, 2025, stated he believes he is qualified and ready to assume the position of Chief Justice.
The acting Chief Justice rejected claims that his nomination was a reward for favouring President John Dramani Mahama during the 2013 election petition.
Speaking during his vetting by the Appointments Committee, he stated, “I wouldn’t know what goes on in the president’s mind since I’m not there. But I actually will be disappointed if my only qualification for the chief justice nomination is that I voted for the president in 2013. But I mean that is on a lighter note, but I think I qualify for the position. I have what it takes to lead the judiciary”.
“The President must have his reason. I don’t know that. I believe I qualify for the position of Chief Justice. I think I deserve that position.
“To say I am the best qualified person in the Supreme Court… now I will say that. The person who I served nearest to me has been there for 10 years… The next person came there in 2005… others are from 2019 and 2020. So, I think I qualify for the position,” he added.
Meanwhile, the minority in parliament has walked out of the vetting of Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
According to Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the minority leader, the nomination of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie is illegitimate due to the unresolved legal challenges.
Afenyo-Markin, before exiting the chamber, declared, “…Chairman, members of the committee, and the country, we, the Minority Caucus, hereby vote emprem to reject the nominee. We would like to state on record that the Majority may proceed with the questions.
We do not intend to participate. However, we are registering in the strongest terms that we reject the nomination, and the records should reflect that the report of this committee be a Majority report,” he said.
He added, “We don’t need to vet a nominee before voting against them. We have preliminary issues well-grounded in law, and on that basis, we cannot be part of a process that may deem one right and deny another of her bona fide rights as enshrined in the Constitution. Chairman, that said, we will yield to you to proceed while we exit this Committee room with our views well documented for the record…”
Also, the Minority Caucus in Parliament has formally written to President John Dramani Mahama, demanding clarity on a petition seeking the removal of acting Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie.
In a statement issued by the minority, they invoke their constitutional right to information, to demand clarity on a petition.
The Minority Caucus wants a copy of any investigative report or decision on the matter, especially as Justice Baffoe-Bonnie is currently nominated for the position of Chief Justice and awaiting parliamentary vetting.
They argue that transparency and accountability must be upheld during this critical process.
It will be recalled that a private citizen, identified as Gbande Nabin Yussif has has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to sack the yet to be sworn in Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
In a petition signed by Gbande Nabin Yussif on October 6, 2025, the private citizen is pleading with President Mahama to sack the acting chief justice on the grounds of misbehaviour.
He references comments made by Paul Baffoe-Bonnie following a lawsuit filed by Israel Tetteh, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamokpor, and a group calling itself the Ghana Law Society.