Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has defended his decision to sentence notorious armed robber Ayi Ayeetey, popularly known as Atta Ay
Chief Justice nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has defended his decision to sentence notorious armed robber Ayi Ayeetey, popularly known as Atta Ayi, to 70 years in prison, describing it as a judgment guided by both law and the need to protect the public.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, November 10, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie recalled the high-profile case from what he called his “youthful days” on the bench.
“The judges and magistrates are trained and guided by sentencing frameworks,” he explained. “But sometimes, you have to go beyond the guidelines. In my youthful days, I gave somebody 70 years — Atta Ayi.”
He noted that while judicial discretion must be exercised within legal limits, certain cases demand sterner sentences to ensure public safety and deterrence.
“I gave him 70 years,” he said. “And what I told myself was that if Atta Ayi was given 30 years and he comes back, my family would be the first he would attack. So by the time he comes back after 70 years, I will be dead and gone,” he remarked humorously, drawing laughter from the audience.
Background
Atta Ayi, once described by police as Ghana’s most notorious armed robber, was the target of one of the largest manhunts in the country’s history. At the height of his criminal reign, his face appeared on billboards across five regions, with a bounty placed on his head.
He was eventually arrested at Teshie Tsui Bleo, a suburb of Accra, along with his girlfriend, who was suspected of being an accomplice. His deputy, Emmanuel Tetteh (alias Mpata), was also captured, and police sources later suggested that information from Mpata may have led to Ayi’s arrest.
According to investigators, Atta Ayi led a gang that carried out numerous armed robberies in Accra, during which they stole cars, money, jewellery, and other valuables at gunpoint. Several victims who resisted were reportedly shot.
He was convicted on multiple counts of armed robbery and sentenced in 2005 to a 70-year prison term — a verdict Justice Baffoe-Bonnie says was fully justified by the severity of his crimes.