‘Anytime I speak, I step on toes’ - Baffoe-Bonnie

Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has joked about the trouble his unscripted comments sometimes cause in the country.

Speaking at the dinner ahead of the 63rd Call to the Bar, he said his comments on certain issues often spark controversy and later become topics of discussion on major television programmes.

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“Over the period, I have come to realize that anytime I open my mouth to speak extemporaneously, I step on toes and create problems that are sometimes discussed as far as flagship programs like Talking Point… so, I would not like to speak from my head or stomach, I'll put something down,” he said.

The Chief Justice also warned the soon-to-be lawyers to be careful with their appearance ahead of Friday’s ceremony.

He said some candidates had previously been denied the call at the last minute because they were not properly dressed.

“Some lawyers, some of your colleagues, were refused the call on the very last day when it was determined that they were not properly attired. So, between now and Friday, there can be no mistakes on your part, otherwise you'll be disappointed, and that distinction matters,” he said.

Baffoe-Bonnie further reminded the candidates that becoming a lawyer comes with a serious responsibility because the profession gives them the power to affect people’s lives.

“The law is an extraordinary profession because it places considerable power in the hands of those who participate. A lawyer can help a person recover property, protect their liberty, establish a business, resolve a dispute, or defend someone whose voice might otherwise never be heard. But that power carries an equally weighty responsibility,” he advised.

He added that the profession should not be seen only as a means of making money.

“The law is not merely a means of earning a living. It is one of the principal instruments through which society augurs itself,” he stressed.

It will be recalled that Baffoe-Bonnie came under public criticism in September 2026 over comments he made during an outreach engagement with state institutions, including the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).

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During the visits, the Chief Justice questioned how some state institutions had been managed over the past eight years and pointed to what he described as improvements in their performance.

The remarks attracted criticism from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which described them as political and called on the Chief Justice to retract the comments or resign.

Watch his video below:

“Over the period, I have come to realise that anytime I open my mouth to speak extemporaneously, I step on toes and create problems that are sometimes discussed even on flagship programmes…” — Chief Justice Paul Baffour Bonney as he addresses the soon-to-be lawyers at the 63rd Call to the Bar dinner.

— The1957News (@The1957News) October 8, 2026

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