The SMART Generation Governance Hub (SMARTGENZ) has described the demand for the resignation of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as needless, but has urged him to retract and apologise for the political statements he made during recent visits to some state institutions.
Executive Director Rev. DK Odei Appiah stated that the political commentary made by the Chief Justice has denigrated the Judiciary, making an apology imperative.
Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie faced public backlash following comments he made during working visits to State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), including the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
Commending the management of MIIF and SSNIT during his outreach visits, Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie questioned how the institutions were run in prior years, stating:
“You have done marvellously well. Sometimes when we hear the things that you have done and the things that some organisations are doing now, we wonder what really we have been doing in the past eight years.”
Reacting to this on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Rev. Odei posited that the Chief Justice could have expressed his thoughts better instead of descending into the partisan political arena. He argued that referencing “the past eight years”—a period coinciding with the administration of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)—introduced unnecessary political commentary into his remarks.
“As a Chief Justice you are apolitical because you are expected to be fair, firm, independent and ensure fairness in the delivery of Justice. What he said undermines the independence of the Judiciary. It introduces political commentary into the work of the courts. It also affects the delivery of unbiased justice. If you also look at the circumstances under which he was appointed, it allowed some people to accuse him of being a member of the NDC. This allows people to develop mistrust and attack the judiciary. The Chief Justice failed to exercise caution and descended into the arena of politics.
We therefore encourage him to retract and apologise not only to the public but also he should apologise to the judiciary. He is not the only person working in the judiciary and so he owes all those working there an apology,” he added.
Rev. Odei further asserted that the Chief Justice appears to be too close to the Executive and must exercise greater restraint going forward.
“He is too close to the Executive. We are not saying he does not have a say on national issues. However, his remarks or commentary should be seen as a way to praise the government so it does not sound political. That is our concern and we therefore encourage him to apologise. Additionally, we are against the call for him to resign. The call for resignation is not a good call. The best he can do is to apologise and that will be all.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana