The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on the Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, to resign and formally join the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), accusing him of engaging in partisan political commentary.
In a statement signed by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the NPP said it was “shocked and disgusted” by a video circulating publicly in which the Chief Justice is alleged to have compared the performance of the current NDC administration and its chief executives to that of the previous NPP government.
The party argued that such political commentary was inconsistent with the constitutional responsibility and independence of the Judiciary.
According to the NPP, Articles 125 and 127 of the 1992 Constitution guarantee the independence of the Judiciary and require judicial officers to administer justice without fear, favour, affection or ill will.
The party further accused the Chief Justice of demonstrating a pattern of closeness to the Executive through his participation in functions involving government appointees.
The NPP also criticised comments attributed to the Chief Justice in which he pledged that everything should be done to ensure the success of President John Dramani Mahama’s agenda.
The party questioned how such a commitment could be reconciled with the Chief Justice’s constitutional obligation to remain impartial, particularly as individuals associated with the NPP face legal proceedings under the government’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative.
The NPP also raised concerns about what it described as the Judiciary’s handling of cases involving its members, citing the issuance of vacation warrants and the incarceration of its Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The party alleged that justice was being administered at different speeds depending on whether individuals were perceived to be opponents or allies of the government.
The NPP further accused the Chief Justice of neglecting challenges facing the Judiciary, including deteriorating court infrastructure, overwhelmed registries and difficult working conditions for judicial staff.
It claimed that the Chief Justice had focused more attention on government agencies than on addressing problems affecting courts and justice delivery.
The party said it would soon hold a major press conference to present what it described as the “full record” of the Chief Justice’s conduct to the public.
The NPP has therefore demanded that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie immediately retract what it described as his partisan commentary and his pledge to support the President’s agenda.
Alternatively, the party wants him to resign and formally join the NDC.
The NPP also called on President Mahama to fill the vacant Council of State position and publicly clarify any arrangements concerning the Chief Justice’s post-retirement future.
The party maintained that the Judiciary must remain independent of both political parties and the Executive, describing the courtroom as the “last refuge of the ordinary Ghanaian.”
It pledged to use “every lawful means” to resist what it described as attempts to turn the courts into instruments of political persecution.
