Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has disclosed that he sentenced notorious armed robber Ataa Ayi to 70 years in prison partly out of fear for his own safety and that of his family.
Speaking during his vetting in Parliament on Monday, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie explained that while judges are expected to follow established sentencing guidelines, exceptional circumstances sometimes demand discretion.
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“I sentenced Ataa Ayi to 70 years in prison because I feared he would attack me and my family upon his release,” he said. “You see, there are so many reasons. The magistrates have the sentencing guidelines, but sometimes they have to go beyond that.”
He revealed that a shorter sentence would have left his family vulnerable after the convict’s release.
“If Ataa Ayi were given 30 years and he came back, my family would be the first ones he would attack. So by the time he comes back after 70 years, I will be dead and gone,” he added.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie used the opportunity to advocate for reforms in Ghana’s justice system, including the introduction of community service and parole as alternatives to imprisonment. He said such measures could help decongest prisons while ensuring offenders contribute positively to society.
“Punishments are not only for the person being punished but also to deter others,” he said, noting that community service could take place in areas where offences occurred to serve as a lesson to the public.
He urged lawmakers to make community sentences and parole a permanent part of Ghana’s judicial system.
Ataa Ayi, born Raymond Aryee Aryeetey, led a feared robbery syndicate in the early 2000s and was convicted in 2005 after years of eluding police capture.
The Accra Fast Track High Court sentenced him to 70 years and 20 years in separate cases of armed robbery.
