Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has defended Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie against criticism from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), insisting that the Chief Justice has done nothing wrong and should not resign.
Mr Koomson described the NPP’s demand for the Chief Justice to step down as politically motivated, accusing the opposition party of exploring every possible avenue to regain power.
Speaking on Ahotor FM on Saturday, September 5, Mr Koomson praised the Chief Justice for his recent engagements with state institutions, including the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
He said comments attributed to the Chief Justice during his visit to MIIF, including his question about what Ghana had been doing over the previous eight years, did not constitute wrongdoing.
According to Mr Koomson, the Chief Justice, as a Ghanaian citizen, has the right to express his views on national issues, particularly matters relating to the performance and management of state institutions.
He maintained that the Chief Justice’s observations were made in good faith and reflected his assessment of what he considered improvements in the operations of some state institutions.
Mr Koomson further argued that the remarks did not undermine judicial independence, saying the Chief Justice was expressing an opinion based on his observations during his engagements with the institutions.
The Chief Justice’s visits to SSNIT and MIIF have generated public debate, particularly over remarks concerning the management of state institutions over the past eight years and what he described as improvements in their operations.
The NPP subsequently criticised the comments, describing them as political and calling on the Chief Justice either to retract his remarks or resign.
Mr Koomson, however, rejected the NPP’s position and said the party had no basis to demand the resignation of the Chief Justice.
He also cited the controversy surrounding attempts to dispose of some SSNIT-owned hotels, arguing that organised labour’s opposition to the move had prevented what he claimed would have been a sale of the properties by the previous administration.
Mr Koomson accused the NPP of being desperate to return to power and urged the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) to remain focused on its mandate rather than be distracted by what he described as political manoeuvring by the opposition.
Meanwhile, the Judicial Service has reaffirmed its support for Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie amid the controversy.
In a statement, the Judicial Service said the Chief Justice remained committed to upholding the integrity and independence of the Judiciary and to promoting equal justice under the law.
