Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has called for a justice system that serves every Ghanaian, stressing that the true test of the rule of law lies in its ability to protect ordinary citizens rather than only powerful individuals and institutions.
Addressing a ceremony to mark 50 years of rural banking and the transition to community banking on Thursday, July 16, through a speech delivered by Justice Sophia Rosetta Bernasko-Essah, the Chief Justice said justice must remain accessible to all, regardless of social status, wealth or location.
He argued that the Constitution envisions a legal system that safeguards farmers, traders, entrepreneurs, pensioners and small businesses just as effectively as it protects large corporations and financial institutions.
“If justice protects only the powerful, then it has failed its constitutional purpose,” he stated, noting that the judiciary’s responsibility extends to resolving the everyday concerns of ordinary citizens.
The Chief Justice explained that access to justice and financial inclusion are closely intertwined, observing that many Ghanaians depend on reliable financial institutions to support farming, trading and small businesses.
He cited examples of farmers seeking credit to cultivate their lands, market women depositing daily earnings, young entrepreneurs accessing loans to expand their businesses and pensioners entrusting their savings to community banks.
According to him, communities with stronger access to financial services are better positioned to reduce poverty, stimulate local enterprise and promote social stability.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie commended rural and community banks for expanding financial services to underserved communities, saying they have played a vital role in supporting economic growth outside the country’s major commercial centres.
He also reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to creating a legal environment that inspires confidence among businesses and investors through fair dispute resolution and respect for contractual obligations.
“Commerce prospers where contracts are honoured. Investment grows where disputes are resolved fairly and without undue delay,” he said.
Reflecting on the 50-year journey of rural banking in Ghana, the Chief Justice described the anniversary as an opportunity to strengthen the future of community banking through good governance, sound regulation, innovation and integrity.
He urged stakeholders to ensure that the next phase of community banking delivers not only stronger financial performance but also greater inclusion and stronger communities.
The Chief Justice congratulated the Bank of Ghana, the Association of Rural Banks, Apex Bank, community banks and other stakeholders for their contributions to the sector’s development over the past five decades, urging them to preserve public trust, which he described as the most valuable asset of any financial institution.
