Johnson worked on a number of highly rated Ghanaian films, often collaborating with the popular director Shirley Frimpong-Manso. He also worked on several television commercials and documentaries. He was well-loved within the acting community and was sometimes called Ghana's best cinematographer. Popularly known as "Bob J," Johnson was educated at the National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI). In addition to creating films within the Ghanaian movie industry, he worked in the camera department on international productions in the United States and the United Kingdom. Johnson was the former President of the Cinematographers Guild of Ghana (CGG).