Loyalty may outweigh competence when the President of Ghana chooses the country’s next Chief Justice, lawyer and Imani Africa Vice President Kofi Bentil said on Wednesday. Bentil spoke on Joy News’ PM Express as Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie prepares to retire in December 2026, a move that will require the appointment of his successor.
“Competence is always important, but even in corporate life, above a certain level, the boss will pick somebody with sufficient competence and great loyalty,” Bentil said. He acknowledged that professional ability remains a factor but said political considerations often determine who gets the nod when multiple candidates are qualified.
Bentil told host Evans Mensah that “at that level, it is not about competence,” adding that “there can be no mistake, regardless of who is picked. They are all really fit.” He said the President’s comfort with a candidate could become decisive in the selection process. “I think that to the extent that it is the president who picks, he will pick a choice that is comfortable for him.”
He also outlined a political advantage in choosing a candidate who has a short period left before retirement. Such a choice, Bentil said, could allow the President to appoint multiple chief justices before leaving office. “It gets the power to pick at least two chief justices before he leaves,” he said, presenting the scenario as an option rather than a prediction.
The Judicial Service confirmed that Baffoe-Bonnie’s tenure ends in December 2026, leaving an open seat that will demand a careful selection. The judiciary currently faces challenges that have raised questions about whether competence should take priority in the next appointment.
Bentil said the appointment should, beyond political calculations, aim to strengthen public confidence in the judiciary. “I think the best thing would be someone who projects confidence in the judiciary.” He said his preferred candidate would command broad agreement among lawyers, judges, and the public but acknowledged that such consensus would be difficult to achieve.
Despite the complexities, Bentil expressed confidence in the quality of potential candidates. “I think ultimately the president will make a good choice because fortunately we have very good people over there, but he will make the choice.”
The conversation comes amid ongoing debates about judicial independence and the influence of political dynamics on Ghana’s legal system. The choice of Chief Justice will shape the judiciary’s direction as Ghana approaches the end of Baffoe-Bonnie’s tenure in late 2026.
According to Joy Online.
