Speaking at the Ceremonial Gardens of the Presidency on Friday, August 8, where he laid a wreath and lit a candle in memory of the deceased, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said the Judiciary shares in the pain of the nation.

“On behalf of the Judicial Service of the Judiciary, I released a statement of condolence to the President, the Government, the people of Ghana and the bereaved families,” he said.

“We are here to commiserate with the President by laying our flowers,” he added, standing alongside other state officials and members of the public gathered to honour the fallen.

Referring to his earlier message of condolence, which President John Mahama echoed in his national address, the Acting Chief Justice noted, “These gallant men died in the cause of duty, so we should forge ahead as a national unit and not politicise their deaths.”

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, with a call to reflection, urged citizens to draw inspiration from the lives of the deceased. “We should all have recalls of the legacies they’ve left behind and serve our nation to the best of our ability,” he said.

The Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter crash, which happened on Wednesday, August 6, at the Adansi Akrofuom district, claimed the lives of eight, including Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, among six others who were on an official assignment.

Source: Clara Seshie

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He expressed heartfelt condolences for the departed individuals who committed their lives to serving Ghana.

In a statement released on August 7, 2025, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie conveyed his deepest sympathies to President John Dramani Mahama, the grieving families, and the broader community of Ghana during this difficult time.

“The victims were not only public servants, but also patriots whose lives were dedicated to the service of our country,” the statement read.

“Their untimely passing is not only a personal loss to their loved ones, but also a grievous blow to the country they so faithfully served.”

The tragic incident involved the loss of several esteemed individuals, including Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, along with six others, among whom were three military personnel. They perished in a helicopter crash involving the Ghana Armed Forces on Wednesday, August 6, in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region. The group was on an official mission to Obuasi at the time of the accident.

In response to this profound loss, the Acting Chief Justice expressed the Judiciary’s solidarity with the nation during this period of mourning.

“The Judiciary and the Judicial Service of Ghana stand with the President, the Government, and with every grieving family, as the nation comes to terms with this immense loss,” the statement added.

He emphasized the importance of national unity during this time of tragedy and encouraged all Ghanaians to find inspiration in the lives of those we have lost.

“It is our prayer that the Almighty God grants the souls of the departed eternal rest and also grants strength, comfort, and healing to all who are affected by this calamity.”

“Let their legacies—marked by courage, selflessness, and devotion to duty—serve as a source of inspiration for all Ghanaians,” the statement concluded.

Source: Adomonline.com

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Adofo said there is a clear conflict of interest, and he supported the decision by Justice Torkornoo’s lawyers to raise the objection.

“He is clearly benefiting as the Acting Chief Justice. He includes himself in a panel and also rules against the woman. So that is a clear conflict of interest. I’m surprised he hasn’t recused himself and set up a new panel. He should not be part of this,” he stated.

His comments followed a 4–1 majority Supreme Court decision on Wednesday dismissing a case filed by the Centre for Citizenship, Constitutional and Electoral Systems (CenCES).

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According to him, the application lacked legal merit, and the court was right to throw it out in a 3–2 majority ruling on Tuesday, 6 May.

In an interview on The Pulse on Joy News shortly after the verdict, Mr Ansa-Asare argued that, as acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie holds both the legal and administrative authority, as head of the judiciary, to assign judges to cases.

Mr Ansa-Asare further noted that, where necessary, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie is permitted to sit on cases by virtue of the office he currently occupies. He therefore sees no illegality or constitutional violation in the acting Chief Justice’s involvement and believes there is no basis for any challenge to his actions.

He added that moral arguments against Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s role were subjective and could not form the basis for judicial compulsion.

“There is an acting Chief Justice, and administratively, he—and he alone—has the authority in matters of empanelling or composing justices to sit on this matter,” he stated. “In the absence of the Chief Justice, the most senior justice of the Supreme Court must carry out that duty. No one can fault the acting Chief Justice for deciding to sit.”

The injunction application formed part of a broader legal challenge involving the Chief Justice’s suspension, raising significant questions about fairness and judicial propriety.

Former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, representing the Member of Parliament for Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, objected to Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s participation and leadership of the panel. He argued that it was both unprecedented and improper for an acting Chief Justice to empanel and preside over a matter involving the substantive Chief Justice.

He contended that the acting Chief Justice was a direct beneficiary of the suspension, and thus it was inappropriate for him to preside over a case that could determine whether he might permanently replace the substantive Chief Justice.

That objection was unanimously dismissed by the Court after a brief recess, allowing proceedings to continue under Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s leadership.

The legal team opposing the suspension further argued that continuing proceedings without resolving preliminary objections would undermine the integrity of the judicial process. However, the majority of the panel found insufficient grounds to justify halting the case at this stage.

To strengthen his argument, the MP for Tafo noted during The Pulse discussions that former Chief Justice Georgina Wood had recused herself in some matters due to her appointment by former President Kufuor. He suggested that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, who was appointed acting Chief Justice by President Mahama, should have done the same.

Mr Ansa-Asare, however, disagreed.

“Justice Georgina Wood recused herself for reasons best known to her, but that does not mean other justices must follow her example. If Paul Baffoe-Bonnie feels he needs to sit and has done so, it is within his constitutional mandate,” he said.

He continued: “There is a legal doctrine known as the doctrine of necessity. Acting upon this doctrine, the Chief Justice or acting Chief Justice may decide to sit, and it is not unlawful to do so.

“If she had not been suspended and chosen to sit, she would not have erred. In like manner, if the acting Chief Justice chooses to sit, he has not erred. So, the issue of fairness does not arise—it is a constitutional mandate. The Constitution empowers the head of the judiciary to empanel, including himself or herself.”

The current panel hearing the case comprises Justices Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Yonny Kulendi, Amadu Tanko, and Ernest Gaewu.

Tuesday’s decision saw Justices Mensa-Bonsu and Gaewu dissenting, while the majority ruled that the case should proceed without further delay.

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The directive, dated April 23, 2025, and communicated through the Deputy Judicial Secretary, applies to registrars of the High Courts, Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.

According to the memo, all fresh filings—whether cases or applications—must be brought to the attention of the acting Chief Justice to facilitate court assignments or the empanelling of judges in instances where there are multiple courts.

The directive also covers the fixing of dates for hearings, effectively centralising the scheduling process under the supervision of the Chief Justice.

The memo noted that this approach overrides all previous guidelines regarding court assignments and hearing schedules, and remains in force until further notice.

Court registrars across the country have been instructed to adhere strictly to the new order.

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He stated that the petitions calling for the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo are baseless, adding that no one deserves to be treated in such a manner.

In an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Nana B suggested that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie should not support a deliberate and politically motivated attempt to oust Justice Torkornoo.

“Before Mahama even became President, he preempted the removal of the Chief Justice, and that is why these frivolous petitions are being entertained. If I were Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, I wouldn’t have even accepted the role as Acting Chief Justice because I’m not sure he would be happy if he suffered a similar fate,” he stated.

Nana B further expressed deep concerns over what he described as the silence of the Judicial Service on the matter.

In the wake of Chief Justice Torkornoo’s suspension, widespread reports suggest that Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie is likely to step in as Acting Chief Justice.

Called to the Bar in 1981, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie is the most senior among the nine remaining justices of the Supreme Court.

He worked as a Circuit Court Judge in Kumasi and served as a High Court Judge at Duayaw Nkwanta in the Bono Region.

Before his appointment as a Supreme Court Judge by former President of Ghana John Kufuor in June 2008, he served as an Appeals Court judge.

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