Bridget Otoo, a presidential staffer and media personality, has waded into the controversy surrounding Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie’s comments about sentencing notorious armed robber Ataa Ayi to 70 years in prison. The remarks, made during the nominee’s vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, November 10, 2025, generated a flurry of social media reactions, both critical and supportive.
During the vetting, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie explained that the lengthy sentence was intended to protect public safety and reflect the severe emotional, social, and economic harm suffered by the victims of Ataa Ayi’s crimes. He noted that although judges generally follow sentencing guidelines, certain crimes demand exceptional measures. Recalling his experience, he stated that in his early judicial career, he imposed a 70-year sentence on Ataa Ayi, reasoning that a shorter term could have endangered his own family.
The Chief Justice nominee’s statement quickly sparked debate online, with some questioning his judgment while others applauded his strict approach. In response, Bridget Otoo defended Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, arguing that his words had been misrepresented. She emphasised that the criminal had committed severe acts and that the sentence, though harsh, was justified. Otoo also challenged critics of the sentence, suggesting that anyone who felt it was unfair could form a movement in Ataa Ayi’s favour, highlighting the enduring trauma the robber caused throughout Ghana.
Ataa Ayi, once Ghana’s most feared armed robber, terrorized residents in Accra during the late 1990s and early 2000s. His capture in 2005 followed one of the country’s largest police manhunts, leading to convictions on multiple armed robbery charges. The debate over Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s sentencing example has reignited conversations on the balance between justice, public safety, and judicial discretion in Ghana, with Bridget Otoo defending the nominee’s position as fair and grounded in context.
