President John Dramani Mahama has urged the new Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, to prioritise integrity within Ghana’s judiciary as he assumes the country’s highest judicial office.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony at the Presidency on Monday, November 17, President Mahama reflected on public trust in institutions, saying, “In recent years, public institutions worldwide and in our own country have been questioned, scrutinised and sometimes criticised. Our people want the institutions that work, but they also demand institutions that they can trust.”
He highlighted the crucial role of the judiciary, noting that “The judiciary in particular must be above reproach. One single act of corruption by a judicial officer can undermine years of hard work and erode public confidence in the entire system.”
Directing his remarks to Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, the President outlined key priorities:
“My lord chief justice, one of your most urgent tasks is to strengthen integrity within the judiciary. And this includes firstly firm but fair disciplinary standards for judges and staff; secondly transparent and predictable procedures for case assignment and management; thirdly strong internal mechanisms to address allegations of misconduct; and fourthly a culture where ethical conduct is rewarded and wrongdoing is swiftly sanctioned.”
He further emphasised that justice must serve all citizens, saying,
“Our citizens must know and feel that justice in Ghana is not for sale and that no one, regardless of their power or their status is too powerful or too humble to be held accountable under the law. Justice must not only be fair, it must also be accessible, it must be timely and it must be affordable.”