Chief Justice Paul Kwadwo Baffoe-Bonnie has called for a prudent, deliberate and responsible approach to integrating artificial intelligence into Ghana’s justice system, stressing that technology must strengthen justice and not the other way round.
Speaking at the National AI Strategy launch in Accra, the Chief Justice stated ”technology must serve justice, and justice must never be made to serve technology.”
He described the launch of the National AI Strategy as a turning point that marked a change from passive observation to active leadership in determining the nation’s technological destiny.
According to him, it is an admission that Ghana will no longer wait for global tech giants to determine its place in that space, but has chosen to be intentional about its technological future now, rather than wait and play catch up.
He noted AI is no longer confined to laboratories or scholarly discussions, but it is now part of everyday life, quietly defining how societies organize themselves and how institutions function.
The Chief Justice said the true question now is not whether Ghana would use AI, but rather on what terms it will be used.
“Every new form of power – whether political, economic or technological eventually finds its way into the courtroom. When that happens it ceases to be merely a matter of innovation – it becomes a matter of law, of rights and of justice,” he said.
Justice Baffoe Bonnie stated that no matter how advanced a technology is, it must still be subjected to the rule of law, adding that even though the constitution may not speak in the language of algorithms and data systems, it speaks in the languages of values such as freedom, justice, probity, accountability and respect for human dignity, which must not be compromised in the face of technological advancement.
He believes that no matter how advanced technology is, it must serve to advance that values enshrined in the constitution.
”Justice cannot be automated, outsourced, but it can be enhanced and made more efficient through technology,” he said.
The Chief Justice noted that AI has so far played a significant role in the justice system by ensuring better case administration, advancing legal research and increasing access to justice for people who now find it difficult to interact with the system.
He did, however, warned against ignoring the dangers associated with adopting artificial intelligence, urging that there is a need to pay attention who creates the AI systems, what prejudices might be present in them, how choices are made and who is accountable for the results.
