The visit underscored the historical relationship between Ghana's legal system and Cape Coast, the original administrative and judicial capital of the Gold Coast.
Royal Reception at Oguaa Palace
The delegation was received at the palace by the Paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area and President of the Oguaa Traditional Council, Osabarimba Dr. Kwesi Atta II, alongside traditional elders.
Speaking on behalf of the Judicial Service, Justice Richard Adjei-Frimpong, Justice of the Supreme Court and Chairman of the Supreme Court @150 Anniversary Planning Committee, formally informed the traditional council of the milestone anniversary celebrations. He praised Cape Coast for its foundational role in shaping West Africa's legal landscape and invited the chiefs to participate in the anniversary events.
His Lordship Justice Richard Adjei-Frimpong (JSC), Chairman of the Supreme Court @ 150 Anniversary Planning Committee
Welcoming the delegation, Osabarimba Dr. Kwesi Atta II commended the Judiciary for reaching its 150-year milestone, pledged the full backing of the Oguaa Traditional Council, and presented Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie with a special ‘Welcome to Cape Coast’ shirt.
Groundbreaking for a Modern Court Complex
Following the palace courtesy call, Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie and Osabarimba Dr. Kwesi Atta II jointly cut the sod at the designated site for a new, modern Court Complex in Cape Coast.
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, and Osabarimba Dr. Kwesi Atta II in a group photograph with
members of the Judicial Service delegation and the Ogua Traditional council at the sod cutting ceremony.
The infrastructure project is designed to upgrade local court facilities, expand modern judicial services, and improve access to justice for residents across the Central Region.
Preserving Heritage: The WACA Building Transformation
The delegation's engagements concluded with a commemorative ceremony at the historic West African Court of Appeal (WACA) site in Bakano, Cape Coast.
Established during the colonial era, the WACA facility served as the premier appellate court for the British West African territories of the Gold Coast (now Ghana), Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia. Following independence and the establishment of sovereign national courts, the building gradually fell into disuse and decay.
Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie and Osabarimba Dr. Kwesi Atta II unveiled a commemorative stele (plaque) at the WACA site, signalling the Judiciary's commitment to redeveloping the dilapidated landmark.
Under the Judicial Service's proposed redevelopment plan, the historic building will not reopen as an active courtroom. Instead, it will be restored and converted into a judicial museum, research centre, and visitor hub, complete with accommodation facilities, to support legal scholars, students, and tourists, providing Cape Coast with another important heritage asset.
