'We must hand over a stronger court to those who will come after us' - CJ

Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has challenged members of Ghana's judiciary to leave behind a stronger and more resilient Supreme Court for future generations, saying the enduring strength of the country's justice system depends on the stewardship of today's judicial officers.

Addressing the Supreme Court's 150th Anniversary Celebrations and Lecture Series in Kumasi on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said every generation had a duty not only to preserve the institution it inherited but also to improve it before passing it on.

"Every generation leaves its fingerprints on the institution it inherits. Some strengthen them; others weaken them. History always tells the difference. The future is in our hands. We did not start this race and we will not finish it.

"Our duty is to run faithfully, to preserve what must be preserved, to reform what needs reform, and to hand over a stronger court to those who will come after us. That is how great institutions endure," he said.

The Chief Justice said the current generation of judicial officers carried both the privilege and responsibility of safeguarding the integrity of the courts while pursuing reforms that would enhance public confidence in the administration of justice.

He stressed that history would judge the judiciary not by the institutions it inherited, but by the legacy it left for those who followed.

The event formed part of activities marking the 150th anniversary of Ghana's apex court and brought together judges, legal practitioners, traditional rulers, academics and other stakeholders to reflect on the evolution of the judiciary and its contribution to constitutional governance.

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Justice Baffoe-Bonnie noted that preserving the judiciary's legacy required more than maintaining existing structures, insisting that meaningful reforms were necessary to ensure the courts remained responsive to the changing needs of society.

Drawing a comparison with the institution of chieftaincy, he said both institutions had remained relevant because they had adapted to changing times without abandoning their foundational values.

"The institution of chieftaincy understands this truth perhaps better than most. Its strength has never rested in age alone but in its remarkable ability to carry yesterday into tomorrow without letting yesterday imprison tomorrow; to remember without becoming rigid, to evolve without forgetting who we are and to remain rooted whilst reaching higher," he noted.

He commended traditional authorities for demonstrating how institutions could preserve their heritage while embracing change, adding that the judiciary faced a similar obligation to balance continuity with reform.

The Chief Justice further urged members of the bench to view the Supreme Court's 150th anniversary not merely as a celebration of its history but as a call to shape its future.

He said the judiciary's greatest achievements should lie ahead, stressing that each generation must build on the work of its predecessors to ensure the courts remain trusted guardians of justice and the rule of law.

MRA/AM

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