One of the leading contenders for the NPP’s National Chairmanship, John Boadu, has warned Parliament not to downplay the Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie’s, remarks on notorious criminal Atta Ayi’s prison sentence.

In 2005, Justice Paul gave Atta Ayi a 70-year prison sentence, convicting Atta Ayi of multiple counts of robbery and conspiracy to rob.

Twenty years later, he addressed the issue, citing it as an example in response to a question about sentencing guidelines and recent concerns over lengthy sentences for minor, non-violent offences during his appearance before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for his appointment as Chief Justice nominee.

According to him, the unusually lengthy sentence he gave Atta Ayi was to ensure the safety of his family; a shorter sentence could have allowed the criminal to target them after his release. emphasised that while sentencing guidelines provide a framework, judges must sometimes exercise discretion to address the broader context of a case, including public safety and the protection of vulnerable parties.

“The judges and magistrates, they are trained, they have sentencing guidelines,” he said. “But sometimes they have to go beyond it. In my youthful days, I gave somebody 70 years, Atta Ayi.

"I gave him 70 years. And what I told myself was that if Atta Ayi was given 30 years and he comes back, my family will be the first he will attack. So by the time he comes back after 70 years, I will be dead and gone,” he said lightheartedly to laughter in the audience,” he noted.

NPP’s aspiring Chairman is not content with the Justice’s answer, raising concerns about his reputation as the soon-to-be highest judicial officer in Ghana and his impartiality in future cases.

During an appearance on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Mr Boadu said Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s remarks about the 70-year jail sentence handed to notorious armed robber Ataa Ayi were “unfortunate”.

Speaking and raising concerns about his impartiality in future rulings.

“What the Chief Justice nominee said was absolutely wrong. Such statements from someone expected to uphold justice are troubling,” he stated.

He further questioned whether Justice Baffoe-Bonnie could remain neutral in cases involving his personal or political interests.

“If a case that affects his personal interest comes before him, can we expect a fair trial?” he asked.

Consequently, he has admonished Parliament to take up the matter, highlighting the need for lawmakers to protect the rights of citizens and uphold judicial independence.

“The parliamentarians who vetted him have an honourable duty to protect the liberty of our people. This should not be about personal interest; it affects the government as a whole. If a case comes to him that involves his personal interests, can we really expect a fair trial? If my case goes before him, I would be fearful because if our political views do not align, he may try to favour his personal interests,” he added.

Background

Ataa Ayi, who was described by the police as the nation's most notorious bandit,t had a high price tag placed on his head by the police. His whereabouts before he was captured prompted the largest manhunt in the nation's crime history, with expensive billboards bearing his portrait mounted in five of the ten regions of the country. Ataa Ayi was arrested in his hideout in the Teshie Tsui Bleo, a suburb of Accra.

His girlfriend, suspected to be an accomplice, was also arrested in the raid.

Before his arrest, the police had been on his heels for months. His deputy, Emmanuel Tetteh, also known as Mpata, was also arrested. It was believed that information provided by Mpata might have helped to track down the elusive Ataa Ayi.

According to police, Ataa Ayi was the brain behind most of the brutal armed robberies in Accra. He and members of his gang were alleged to have, at gunpoint, stolen money, cars, jewellery and other valuables from various people in the national capital. He was also alleged to have shot several people who resisted his attacks.

Meanwhile, during the vetting, the Minority Caucus staged a walkout during the vetting process of the Chief Justice nominee.

This unfolded after the Minority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, led his colleagues in raising issues against the nomination and also the processes that led to the removal of Gertrude Torkornoo as Chief Justice.

“We vote to reject the nominee. The Majority can proceed with the questions; we do not intend to proceed with any question. We are, however, registering in the strongest terms that we reject the nomination, and the records should reflect that the report of this committee be a majority report,” their leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, said during the vetting process.

In response, the Chair of the Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, said, “We thank you very much, we wish you well.”

Tension flared between Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin during the vetting session for the Chief Justice nominee.

Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, insisted that his caucus reserves the right to refer to Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as the contested Chief Justice nominee.

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised strong objections to Parliament’s decision to continue with the vetting of Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, calling it a violation of constitutional principles, the rule of law, and a situation that presents a conflict of interest.

In a statement issued on November 10 and signed by General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua, the party maintained that the vetting should have been put on hold until cases filed by former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo were fully addressed.

According to the NPP, seven substantive legal actions related to the matter are currently pending before Ghana’s Supreme Court, the High Court, and the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

Baffoe-Bonnie was nominated by President John Dramani Mahama in accordance with constitutional provisions following the removal of the former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office.

The vetting will assess his qualifications, judicial experience and overall suitability for the role before the committee submits its report to the plenary for consideration.

This comes despite Minority Members of Parliament filing a motion seeking to halt the vetting of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie.

In a statement dated October 29, 2025, the Minority indicated that the vetting process should be suspended until all pending suits and applications concerning former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo have been heard and determined.

The Minority, citing Articles 110(1), 125–127, 144(1) and 146 of the 1992 Constitution and relevant Standing Orders, urged Parliament to suspend the Appointments Committee’s vetting and any plenary debate or approval processes.

The motion cited cases including the ECOWAS Court suit, the Supreme Court and the High Court applications.

"That this Honourable House, having regard to Articles 110(1), 125-127, 144(1) and 146 of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Orders 57(1)-(3), 93, 103(f), 216 and 217, resolves to suspend forthwith all further proceedings, both at the Appointments Committee and at Plenary, on the nomination of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Chief Justice until all pending suits and applications directly bearing on the removal of Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo (including ECOWAS Court Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/32/25 on provisional measures, multiple Supreme Court proceedings, and High Court applications) are finally determined or withdrawn," the statement said.