Specialized courts for galamsey, drugs to be revamped-Acting CJ

Ghana’s Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has promised to make cases involving illegal mining (galamsey) and drug-related offenses a top judicial priority, unveiling plans to revamp and expand specialised courts to deal exclusively with such crimes.

Delivering his address at the 44th Annual Conference of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana in Accra, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said restoring public trust in the justice system demands visible impartiality and swift justice.

The nominee raised concerns about what he called “a troubling perception of weak and inconsistent sentencing” for environmental and narcotics offenses. He argued that without consistent and firm punishments, deterrence fails and public confidence erodes.

“Consistency in sentencing is key. The narrative that punishments for galamsey and drug crimes are lenient or uneven must change,” he urged.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie also warned against political or commercial interference in judicial processes. According to him, the judiciary’s independence and integrity are its strongest tools for earning and retaining legitimacy.

“Our independence must be fiercely guarded. The public must be assured that justice is never for sale,” he emphasised.

He announced that the judiciary would revive the specialised courts first pioneered under former Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, expanding their mandate to tackle illegal mining, environmental degradation, and narcotics trafficking.

Looking beyond case management, the nominee urged judges and magistrates to take a proactive societal role, amplifying messages against galamsey and drug abuse.

“These crimes are more than legal violations—they are betrayals of our shared future. The judiciary must be a moral compass, protecting our natural heritage and shielding our youth,” he added.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie concluded by calling for continuous judicial training, particularly in handling emerging forms of criminality such as cyber-enabled trafficking and corporate structures used to disguise illegal mining.