In a rare moment of candour, Acting Chief Justice Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has revealed that his 70-year sentence for infamous armed robber Ataa Ayi was driven not only by the law but also by fear — fear for his family’s safety.
Speaking before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie admitted that his decision went beyond the usual sentencing guidelines.
“I sentenced Ataa Ayi to 70 years in prison because I feared he would attack me and my family upon his release,” he confessed. “You see, there are so many reasons. The magistrates have the sentencing guidelines, but sometimes they have to go beyond that.”
Reflecting on his decision, he explained that a shorter sentence would have left his family vulnerable.
“If Ataa Ayi was given 30 years and he comes 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 said with a wry smile.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie also called for reforms to modernise Ghana’s justice system — including community service and parole — arguing that not all offenders need to be locked away.
“Punishments are not only for the person being punished but also to deter others,” he said, adding that offenders could be made to serve their communities as part of their rehabilitation.
His remarks come as the judiciary continues to face public scrutiny over sentencing consistency and prison congestion.
Who Is Ataa Ayi?
Once the most feared name in Ghana, Raymond Aryee Aryeetey, alias Ataa Ayi, led a syndicate that terrorised residents in the early 2000s.
From carjackings to violent robberies, his name alone struck fear. His arrest in February 2005 marked the end of years of eluding the police.
He was later sentenced to 70 years and 20 years in separate cases by the Accra Fast Track High Court.
