In an open letter to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the security analyst and commentator Nana Kweku Ofori Atta has called for sweeping reforms to strengthen Ghana’s judiciary in handling extradition and high-risk cases.
“The judiciary is the cornerstone of justice, the guardian of constitutional order, and a beacon of the rule of law on our continent,” Ofori Atta wrote while praising the Chief Justice’s “visionary leadership” since his appointment to the Supreme Court in 2008.
The letter outlined four major recommendations. First, the assignment of specialised legal practitioners to ensure accuracy in prosecutions. “Assigning lawyers outside their field of specialisation introduces unacceptable risks,” he warned, noting the need for experts in extradition, human rights, immigration, and constitutional law.
Second, he emphasized investigative rigor, stressing that extradition cases must be grounded in “thoroughly verified intelligence and professionally conducted investigations.”
Third, Ofori Atta called for enhanced judicial security, including secure transportation for judges, prosecutors, and detainees, as well as modern surveillance systems around court premises. “This is far more than a logistical consideration,” he wrote. “It is a critical safeguard against vulnerabilities that could compromise personnel safety and the credibility of judicial proceedings.”
Finally, he urged closer collaboration among the Police Service, Judicial Service, and Prisons Service, supported by encrypted data systems to protect evidence and streamline operations.
Framing these measures as a strategic investment, Ofori Atta concluded: “When our courts are professionally supported, technologically equipped, and secure, justice is not only done but it is seen to be done.”