From Kramomu and the Goa River to the judiciary's pinnacle: Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Goaso's distinguished son, comes home to his roots

The name Baffoe-Bonnie is not just another surname in Goaso. It is a piece of the town’s history. 

So, when one of its own, His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, returned home over the weekend following his appointment as Chief Justice, it was more than an official visit. It was a heartfelt reunion.

Roots

The journey of the Chief Justice is deeply rooted in the soil of Goaso. His father, the late Opanin Joseph Baffoe-Bonnie, left his hometown of Sewua in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region as a young man and settled in Goaso to undertake cocoa farming, a venture that would establish his family in the town. It was here that he raised his many children with his wives. Justice Baffoe-Bonnie's mother was Madam Akosua Amponsaa, affectionately known as Akonsaa. She was a native daughter of Goaso, further anchoring the family's heritage in the community.

Investment

Agya Baffoe, as the patriarch was fondly called, was a man of vision and faith. A staunch Catholic, he once served as president of St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Goaso. He was a very good friend of my father, who had also settled in Goaso after moving from his hometown, Atwima Yabi, to work as the road overseer for the then Ahafo District Council.

At a time when formal education was not a priority for many men in Goaso, Agya Baffoe stood out as one of the few who invested heavily in the education of his children. That investment paid dividends, producing many highly educated men and women, including a Chief Justice.

Memory lane

Returning to Goaso, CJ Baffoe-Bonnie immediately embarked on a pilgrimage down memory lane. He interacted with pupils of the Roman Catholic Primary School, the very school where his educational journey began.

Activities

The primary purpose of his visit was to commission the new High Court complex, a significant addition to the judicial infrastructure of the area. However, the Chief Justice made it clear that the trip was also a personal homecoming. He took time to interact with the chiefs and people of the town, paying a courtesy call on the traditional council to seek their blessings and acknowledge their role in shaping his youth. He also joined the congregation for a service at St. Anthony's Cathedral Church, the very church his father once led, reconnecting with his spiritual roots.

At the commissioning ceremony, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie shed his judicial robes, if only in speech, to become the little boy from Goaso again. 

He regaled the gathering with vivid memories of his youth. He spoke of the daily treks to Kramomu, the well that served as the community's source of drinking water — a chore that built character and resilience. 

He fondly recalled the carefree days spent swimming in the Goa River, often returning home with his skin wrinkled and "turned whitish" from the water.

Visit to the court

Most remarkably, he shared the spark that ignited his legal career. As a child in basic school, he was a frequent visitor to the old District Court. He would stand outside and thrust his head over the wall to observe the proceedings, fascinated by the lawyers in their robes and the rhythm of the arguments. 

He was attracted to the decorum and eloquence of the lawyers who appeared there. 

Little did the young observer know that those childhood visits to a modest courtroom would sow the seeds for a destiny that would see him rise to become the highest judicial officer in the land.

Powerful testament 

The homecoming of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie was a powerful testament to the fact that no matter how high one rises, one's roots remain the anchor. 

For the people of Goaso, it was a moment of immense pride to see the boy who once fetched water from Kramomu and swam in the Goa River return as the Chief Justice, proving that from humble beginnings, great things can indeed grow.