Ghana prepares for Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie retirement

Ghana is preparing for the retirement of Chief Justice Paul Kwadwo Baffoe-Bonnie, who is expected to step down on December 26, 2026, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70. Having been sworn into office on November 17, 2025, Baffoe-Bonnie’s substantive tenure is projected to last approximately thirteen months.

Under Article 144(1) of the 1992 Constitution, the President appoints the Chief Justice in consultation with the Council of State and with approval from Parliament. The Constitution does not mandate that the President select the longest-serving Supreme Court justice.

Several Supreme Court justices have emerged in public discussions regarding potential succession. Prominent names include Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Avril Lovelace-Johnson, Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi, Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Senyo Dzamefe, and Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei. These candidates possess diverse professional backgrounds, including extensive experience in private legal practice, judicial administration, and international courts.