Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has explained the 70-year prison sentence he handed to Ghana’s most infamous armed robber, Ayi Ayeetey, popularly known as Ataa Ayi, describing it as a necessary decision taken in the interest of justice and public safety.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, November 10, 2025, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie recalled the case from what he described as his “youthful days” on the bench, noting that although sentencing guidelines exist, judges must sometimes exercise discretion in the face of serious crimes.
“The judges and magistrates are trained; they have sentencing guidelines,” he explained. “But sometimes they have to go beyond them. In my youthful days, I gave somebody 70 years—Atta Ayi,” he said.
He said his decision was informed not only by the gravity of Ataa Ayi’s crimes but also by considerations of public safety.
“I gave him 70 years, and what I told myself was that if Ataa Ayi was given 30 years and he came back, my family would be the first he would attack. So by the time he comes back after 70 years, I’ll be dead and gone,” he said humorously.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie stressed that sentencing must always balance justice, deterrence, and protection of society, and sometimes requires difficult judgments beyond the standard guidelines.
Background
Ataa Ayi, once described as Ghana’s most dangerous criminal, led one of the country’s most feared armed robbery gangs in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His gang terrorised residents of Accra and surrounding areas, robbing victims at gunpoint and making away with cars, cash, jewellery, and other valuables.
His activities prompted one of the largest manhunts in Ghana’s criminal history, with police mounting billboards bearing his image across several regions. After months of pursuit, Ataa Ayi was arrested in his hideout at Teshie Tsui Bleo, a suburb of Accra, along with his girlfriend, who was suspected of being an accomplice.
He was convicted in 2005 on multiple counts of armed robbery and related offences and sentenced to 70 years’ imprisonment. His arrest and trial marked a breakthrough in Ghana’s fight against violent crime.
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