Ghana’s Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has cast doubt over the governance of public bodies in recent years, pointing to a sharp turnaround in performance at two key state funds as evidence of earlier misdirection.
Speaking during visits to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), the top judge suggested that recent gains achieved by the bodies expose broader failures in how national assets were previously handled.
“Sometimes when we hear how well some state organisations are doing now, we wonder what we really have been doing in the past eight years,” Mr Baffoe-Bonnie said.
He described the reported recovery at SSNIT as especially stark, recalling that the pension provider had, until recently, moved to divest major holdings to remain viable.
“The kind of things that we heard and what we were told, if you compare that to the fact that not too long ago, SSNIT was preparing to sell its prized assets like Labadi Pleasure Beach, you wonder how Ghana could have sunk so low,” he remarked.
The Chief Justice attributed the shift to disciplined oversight and a renewed focus on duty, calling on administrators to prioritize their public mandate over self-interest.
“I think maybe you have achieved all this through proper management and the use of resources and the recognition of the fact that we are not here for ourselves,” he said, adding: “Whatever we should aim at is how we want to be remembered for the stewardship that we were given.”
Drawing analogies from the judicial system, Mr Baffoe-Bonnie emphasized that state institutions must center their operations around the public, noting that popular trust is formed during initial encounters with frontline staff.
“We at the judiciary always say that power is for the people. The judicial power emanates from the people. We only exercise that power on their behalf. So whatever we do, we should have them in mind,” he stated.
“Justice actually starts from when the processes are filed. Even the receptionist who receives you, how he talks to you will give you an impression as to whether justice is going to be delivered or not.”
Directing his remarks to MIIF executives, he urged them to drive forward the development plans of President John Dramani Mahama, framing public office as a trust that must be honored.
“If the old man has decided that you are the right person to be in this position out of the 30 million people, it means he has a lot of confidence in you. And so we should do everything to make sure that his agenda succeeds,” he said.
Commending MIIF’s leadership on its operational results, the Chief Justice called for sustained momentum.
“I will congratulate you and encourage you to continue whatever has brought the success so far. Two per cent has yielded so much. I don’t know how well—we don’t know the value of two per cent—but you have done marvellously well,” he said.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
