{
  "id": 5134731,
  "title": "Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie explains why judges sit during Ghana’s legal vacation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/chief-justice-baffoe-bonnie-explains-why-judges-sit-during-ghanas",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T17:12:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/chief-justice-baffoe-bonnie-explains-why-judges-sit-during-ghanas-legal-vacation/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has addressed the controversy surrounding judges sitting during Ghana's legal vacation, stating that the courts cannot simply stop functioning because the period is in effect. He emphasized that legal vacation does not mean the administration of justice comes to a halt, especially when urgent and emergency cases require immediate attention. \"Cases don't go on leave, and emergency cases have to be heard. Legal vacation doesn't mean all things must cease,\" he affirmed. This statement comes amidst a debate within Ghana's legal community about the appropriateness of judges sitting during the legal vacation. The issue has even reached the Supreme Court after a member of parliament, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, challenged the practice through a case that was initially dismissed but subsequently appealed for review. During a meeting with the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Justice Baffoe-Bonnie defended the practice, explaining that it is within the rules of the Judicial Service and allows judges to handle urgent matters during the vacation. He stressed that the justice system must remain responsive to time-sensitive cases that cannot reasonably be delayed until the courts fully resume their operations. Baffoe-Bonnie argued that suspending all court proceedings during the legal vacation could have serious consequences for litigants with urgent cases. He reiterated that the controversy should not exist, given the provisions allowing courts to deal with critical matters when necessary, and assured the public of the judiciary's commitment to ensuring access to justice at all times, including during the legal vacation.",
  "summary": "Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has weighed in on the growing controversy over whether judges should sit during Ghana’s legal vacation, insisting that the courts cannot completely suspend their work simply because the period is in effect.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Straits Times",
        "title": "Rule of law must adapt as society’s values, circumstances evolve: Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/rule-of-law-must-adapt-as-societys-values-circumstances-evolve-chief",
        "published": "2026-09-02T13:50:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Chief Justice removal process open to political manipulation – IEA warns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/chief-justice-removal-process-open-to-political-manipulation-iea-warns",
        "published": "2026-09-02T14:40:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Cases don’t go on leave – Chief Justice defends judges sitting during legal vacation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/cases-dont-go-on-leave-chief-justice-defends-judges-sitting-during",
        "published": "2026-09-02T15:12:20.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}