Prominent Ghanaian historian and lawyer Yaw Frimpong Anokye has defended Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, maintaining that he did nothing wrong by commending state institutions such as SSNIT and MIIF during recent official visits.
According to him, the 1992 Constitution clearly outlines activities that judges and the head of the judiciary must avoid, and the Chief Justice’s remarks did not breach any of those provisions.
His comments follow criticism from the Ghana Bar Association (GBA). Speaking at the 2026/27 GBA Annual Conference in Ada on Monday, September 14, GBA President Efua Ghartey described the Chief Justice’s remarks regarding state-owned enterprises (SOEs) as inappropriate.
However, speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Mr Frimpong Anokye argued that the institutions visited belong to the Republic of Ghana, not to any political party. He noted that if previously loss-making bodies are now recording profits, the Chief Justice, as a statesman, has every right to commend such progress.
He also challenged the GBA President, asserting that her criticisms represented her personal views rather than the official stance of the Association, adding that mainstream lawyers do not support her position.
He further questioned why the Bar President waited so long to address the matter.
He stated that: “The Chief Justice did no wrong in making those remarks. The law allows him to make those visits, and as far as he did not make remarks that breached his ethical position, there is nothing wrong with it. Judges are not allowed to make commentary on matters that have the potential to appear before the courts, partisan political commentary, or any case pending in court. He is a senior citizen, and so if he visited state bodies and made remarks, there is nothing wrong with that.
“Additionally, the comments made by the Bar President were her personal opinion. Her remarks did not represent the opinions of the membership of the Bar. We did not ask her to go and say the things she said. She expressed her personal views. The attacks on the Chief Justice are unwarranted. If the members had asked her to make the remarks, she would have quoted specific rules, laws, or provisions in the Constitution to support any statement. But she did not make reference to any law that supports breaches.”
He has therefore admonished those who think the Chief Justice breached any law to go to court and seek redress.
“For those who think the Chief Justice erred, they should go to court and sue him; if not, let’s stop the needless political commentary and attacks. State bodies are entities owned by Ghanaians, and if they were not performing and someone has turned them around and someone is commending them, there is nothing wrong with that.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana