Ghana Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie's Vacation Judges List Sparks Controversy

• 26 judges are sitting nationwide during the legal vacation in Ghana, contrary to the impression created by some lawyers.
• Hundreds of cases are involved, not just a few high-profile ones as suggested by the petitions.
• The Chief Justice's warrants for judges to sit during the legal vacation have been misinterpreted as selective and biased.

There are hundreds of cases involved, not just two or seven. They are located in the Greater Accra, Eastern, Central, Northern, Western, Ashanti, Volta, and Upper East regions.

A controversy has erupted over the continuation of cases during the legal vacation in Ghana. Lawyers Godfred Dame and Atta Akyea have petitioned the current Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, protesting the handling of their clients' cases. The petitions have created an impression that the current Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, is selectively choosing judges to sit on only certain high-profile cases involving members of the former ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

The legal vacation in Ghana is a period when judges take a break from their regular duties. However, the law allows for certain cases to be heard during this time with the permission of the current Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie. The list of 26 judges sitting nationwide during the vacation has been made available to Pledge Against Corruption.

According to experts, legal vacations are meant to provide judges with a break and not to hinder the progress of cases. However, the continuation of cases during this period can be complex and requires careful selection of judges and cases.

The controversy surrounding the vacation courts has significant implications for the administration of justice in Ghana. The selective handling of cases can create an impression that the judiciary is biased towards certain individuals or groups.

Moreover, the continuation of cases during the legal vacation highlights the need for a more efficient and transparent selection process for judges to sit during this period. This will help to ensure that justice is served without undue delay.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware that the continuation of cases during the legal vacation in Ghana may not be as selective as some have claimed, with a total of 26 judges sitting nationwide and hundreds of cases involved.

Source: Original reporting via Pledge Against Corruption