Recent events in the Akuapem Traditional Area have been widely interpreted as a demonstration of renewed commitment to the rule of law under the leadership of the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.

At his swearing-in, the Chief Justice reaffirmed his oath to defend and uphold the rule of law and safeguard the independence of the judiciary in accordance with the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

Developments surrounding the inauguration of the new High Court/Circuit Court complex at Akropong-Akuapem have since been cited by observers as practical evidence of that commitment.

According to information available, an individual who is currently the subject of ongoing chieftaincy litigation and contempt proceedings sought to attend and chair the commissioning ceremony of the court complex.

The individual had reportedly been invited by the Municipal Chief Executive for Akuapem North, John Evans Kumodzie.

However, acting on the authority of the Chief Justice, the Office of the Judicial Secretary is said to have formally advised the Municipal Assembly to refrain from extending such an invitation and to remove the individual’s name from the commissioning plaque.

The directive reportedly emphasised the need to preserve the dignity, integrity, and institutional independence of the judiciary, particularly in light of subsisting court orders.

Subsequently, the assembly communicated its compliance with the directive, informing the individual that he was not to attend or participate in the ceremony in any official capacity.

The controversy arises from longstanding litigation concerning the Akuapem paramountcy. The Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs previously determined that no paramount chief had been validly installed for Akuapem.

Notwithstanding that determination, the individual in question has continued to present himself as Okuapehene and to assume the stool name “Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III.”

On March 17, 2021, the High Court in Koforidua nullified his purported installation. Subsequently, the court, presided over by Doris Dabanka-Bekoe, found him and another individual guilty of contempt of court and imposed a fine of GH¢10,000 each, with a default sentence of fourteen (14) days’ imprisonment.

Reports further indicate that attempts to challenge related decisions before the Supreme Court were unsuccessful.

Against this backdrop, several community members have argued that permitting an individual subject to subsisting court orders to chair or headline the inauguration of a court facility would risk undermining public confidence in the administration of justice and contradict binding judicial pronouncements.

The decision to prevent his participation has therefore been widely interpreted as a reaffirmation of the judiciary’s independence and authority.



Observers note that it underscores the fundamental principle that court orders must be respected and complied with, and that the dignity of the courts must be safeguarded at all times.

During the inauguration ceremony, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie reportedly called on residents of Akropong and the wider Akuapem area to preserve and protect the new court complex for present and future generations, reiterating his commitment to upholding the rule of law.

Members of the community have since expressed appreciation for what they describe as a decisive and principled intervention.

They contend that the development reinforces public confidence in Ghana’s justice delivery system and demonstrates the judiciary’s resolve to uphold the Constitution and enforce its orders without fear or favour.

The events at Akropong-Akuapem serve as a broader reminder that respect for judicial decisions remains central to democratic governance and that the rule of law continues to be the cornerstone of Ghana.