NPP criticises Chief Justice over comments on government performance
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie over comments he made during visits to some State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), accusing him of making partisan political remarks.
The party said the Chief Justice’s recent comments, particularly his assessment of the performance of some public institutions under the current administration, raised concerns about the independence and neutrality of the Judiciary.
During a visit to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Justice Baffoe-Bonnie praised developments at the institution and other public agencies.
He said some of what he had witnessed at state institutions had made him question what Ghana had been doing over the previous eight years.
The Chief Justice also referred to an earlier visit to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), saying the experience had reinforced his view that some public institutions were performing significantly better.
However, in a statement signed by its General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the NPP described the comments as inappropriate for the head of the Judiciary.
The party accused the Chief Justice of making political comparisons between the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration and the previous eight-year NPP government.
The NPP argued that the Judiciary, as an independent arm of government, must remain politically neutral and said the Chief Justice’s comments could undermine public confidence in that independence.
The party also criticised what it described as the Chief Justice’s frequent appearances at events involving government appointees and institutions.
According to the NPP, his participation in such activities and his reported commitment to ensuring the success of President John Dramani Mahama’s agenda raise questions about his ability to maintain impartiality in cases involving the Executive.
The party specifically referenced the government’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative, arguing that cases arising from the programme could come before the courts headed by the Chief Justice.
The NPP also raised concerns about what it described as disparities in the pace at which politically sensitive cases are handled, citing the incarceration of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
It alleged that the judicial process was being applied with greater speed to political opponents of the government, a claim the party said reflected its broader concerns about the independence of the Judiciary.
Beyond the Chief Justice’s comments, the NPP questioned why he had visited state institutions while, according to the party, several courts and offices under the Judiciary continued to face infrastructure and operational challenges.
The party cited deteriorating court facilities, congested registries and difficult working conditions for judicial staff as issues requiring attention.
It accused the Chief Justice of focusing more on monitoring government agencies than addressing challenges within the Judiciary.
The NPP has consequently demanded that the Chief Justice retract what it described as his partisan comments and his commitment to the President’s agenda.
The party further called on him to resign if he is unwilling to do so.
The NPP said it would organise a press conference to present what it described as a full record of the Chief Justice’s conduct and its concerns about the state of judicial independence.
It maintained that the Judiciary must remain independent of the President, political parties and government agendas, describing the courts as the “last refuge” for ordinary Ghanaians.
Source: 3news.com
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