Why Chief Justice Nominee Left the Ghana Prisons Service in His Early Career

Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, disclosed a pivotal decision early in his career during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on November 10, 2025. He revealed that he left the Ghana Prisons Service in 1988 after being told that, as a Deputy Superintendent, he was not allowed to marry a junior officer.

Faced with this restriction, Baffoe-Bonnie chose to resign to pursue a relationship with the woman he loved. He explained that after six months of military training, he was posted to Sekondi, where he met his future wife, then a sixth former with no rank. Two years later, the service informed him that marriage to a junior officer was prohibited, prompting his decision to leave.

Following his departure, he transitioned into the judiciary, gradually rising through the ranks to become a highly respected judge with decades of experience. He emphasized that his 33 years of service in the judiciary reflect his commitment to integrity, justice, and fairness.

The vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee will now consider his professional record, judicial philosophy, and vision for reforms, as he vies to become Ghana’s next Chief Justice.