The nomination of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Ghana’s next Chief Justice has drawn mixed reactions, not because of his qualifications — which are solid and indisputable — but because of the brevity of his potential tenure. At nearly 69, the Constitution makes clear his service will end in just two years.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie is, by all measures, a sturdy and steady choice. He carries the kind of gravitas the judiciary sorely needs at a moment when public confidence has been shaken. The bench has taken bruises in recent years — with the immediate past Chief Justice facing sharp public scrutiny and questions over her removal. The judiciary is not a sanitized space, but it is one that must inspire confidence.

It is also worth noting that in recent history, Ghana’s judiciary has been led by a number of female Chief Justices — a sign of progress in gender representation at the very top of the judicial arm. Yet, at the same time, some contrast this with the executive’s current structure: although President Mahama selected a female Vice President, one of the lowest numbers of women in senior cabinet positions has also been recorded in recent history.

And given the Vice President’s age, some argue her post is more symbolic than strategic succession planning. This juxtaposition raises questions about how representation, longevity, and institutional strength are balanced at the highest levels of governance.

And this is where the question arises: should Ghana not have been presented with a nominee capable of leading for a longer stretch — someone who could guide judicial reforms and stability well into the future? The shorter horizon of this appointment risks the appearance of an interim fix.

Yes, the NDC leadership is astute — they know why they chose him, perhaps as a bridge figure, a caretaker who steadies the ship until a more “packaged” and publicly palatable candidate is unveiled for the long term. But in the meantime, confidence may falter: why not be upfront now about the vision for judicial leadership, rather than ask the public to wait for the reveal?

This is especially important because President Mahama himself is not contesting again. In that context, it matters greatly who leads the judiciary during the transition and beyond. The Chief Justice is not merely an internal appointment; it is the constitutional guardian of the separation of powers.

And when a Chief Justice can be removed — some argue too easily — on grounds that did not appear to rise to very serious misconduct, despite over 1,000 pages of evidence presented in her defence, Ghanaians are entitled to be vigilant.

So yes, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie is an able and respected choice. But Ghanaians must also ask: is this only a prelude? Is there a broader strategy in play, timed with the political calendar, to reshape the judiciary for the long haul? The NDC may be playing master chess.

The rest of us, however, are left with a pressing question: how will these moves, and the brevity of this appointment, shape the judiciary’s independence and Ghana’s constitutional balance in the years to come?

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By: Amanda Akuokor Clinton

The writer is an international lawyer and Head of Chambers at Clinton Consultancy