Chief Justice’s Canada Trip and Black Stars Visit Were Privately Funded, Judicial Service Says

The Judicial Service of Ghana has clarified the circumstances surrounding Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie’s recent visit to the Black Stars camp in Canada, following public discussion sparked by photographs of the visit.

In a statement issued on Friday, June 19, 2026, the Judicial Service’s Communications Department explained that the Chief Justice is currently on official vacation and travelled to Canada in his private capacity, funding the trip entirely from his personal resources.

According to the statement, Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, described as “a patriotic Ghanaian and keen sports enthusiast,” took advantage of his stay in Canada to visit the Black Stars camp and offer encouragement to the national team as it participates in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Judicial Service stressed that the visit was solely intended to support the team and should not be interpreted otherwise.

The clarification follows the Chief Justice’s appearance in a delegation that visited the Black Stars at their hotel in Toronto on Tuesday, June 16, ahead of Ghana’s opening World Cup match against Panama. The delegation was led by Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and included Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Prof. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, as well as Nana Otuo Siriboe II, who represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Images of the visit circulated widely on social media, prompting mixed reactions. While some Ghanaians questioned the appropriateness of a sitting Chief Justice being part of a high-profile delegation, others viewed the visit as a harmless expression of national pride and support for the Black Stars.

Responding to the concerns, the Judicial Service emphasised that judicial independence does not require judges to isolate themselves from society or refrain from participating in ordinary national activities.

“Judges remain citizens of the Republic and members of the communities they serve,” the statement noted, adding that the Constitution demands independence of thought, adherence to the law and impartiality in the performance of judicial duties.

The Service maintained that the Chief Justice’s visit to the Black Stars camp was consistent with those principles and was motivated solely by his support for Ghana’s national football team.