The Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has urged judges and magistrates to maintain a healthy balance between the demanding responsibilities of judicial office and their personal lives.
According to the Chief Justice, discussions about the Ghana Judiciary often focus heavily on institutional issues such as court backlogs, judgments, efficiency and technology, while insufficient attention is given to the human beings behind the judicial system.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie made the remarks at the opening of the 45th Annual Conference of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG).
The two-day conference is being held under the theme “Balance Beyond the Bench: Harmonising Duty, Justice and Life.”
Chief Justice Highlights Human Side of Judicial Office
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said judges and magistrates are expected to demonstrate intellectual discipline, emotional restraint and professionalism while handling cases that can have significant consequences for individuals, families and businesses.
He noted that behind every court judgment is a judicial officer who also has family responsibilities, friendships, personal concerns and aspirations.
“Behind every robe is a person with a family, friendships, responsibilities, worries, hopes and, occasionally, the simple desire to go home and have a quiet evening without somebody asking for a ruling,” he said.
The Chief Justice stressed that judicial responsibilities require officers to make decisions that can affect a person’s liberty, family, property, business or the future of a child.
He therefore encouraged judges and magistrates to recognise their humanity while maintaining the discipline and impartiality required of their positions.
Baffoe-Bonnie Reflects on Personal Experience
The Chief Justice also reflected on his own experience in office, acknowledging that he has faced difficulties on occasions when his personal side became more visible than his official responsibilities.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said he had attended public events to honour close friends and relatives, as well as participated in official activities in his capacity as Chairman of the Council for Legal Education and Training.
He noted that, in some instances, remaining within the confines of his official office might have been considered the safer approach.
“I have, in recent times, run into some trouble in this office precisely because I allowed my humanity to overtake my official restraint,” he said.
Despite these experiences, the Chief Justice maintained that judicial officers should not be expected to abandon their humanity simply because they occupy positions of authority.
Judges Must Remain Human, Chief Justice Says
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie emphasised that wearing the judicial robe should not mean losing the human qualities that define individuals outside the courtroom.
“The robe may require restraint, discipline and distance, but it must never require us to cease being human. The challenge is not to choose between being a judge and being a person; it is to learn how to be both, without allowing one to compromise the other,” he stressed.
He said achieving this balance was essential to maintaining effectiveness and professionalism within the Ghanaian justice system.
Balance Does Not Mean Less Work
Addressing the theme of the conference, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie clarified that maintaining balance should not be interpreted as an encouragement for judges and magistrates to reduce their workload or commitment to duty.
Rather, he argued that judicial responsibilities are better performed by individuals who are not constantly exhausted, overwhelmed or isolated.
The Chief Justice’s message forms part of broader discussions about the wellbeing, professionalism and effectiveness of judicial officers as the Ghana Judiciary continues to address issues including case backlogs, efficiency and the evolving demands of modern justice administration.
The AMJG conference provides an opportunity for judges and magistrates to discuss these challenges while exploring ways to harmonise judicial duty, justice and personal life.
Source: newsthemegh.com