PAGA calls on Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to resign over ‘political bias’ concerns
The People’s Alliance for Governance and Accountability (PAGA) has called for Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to resign, alleging that his recent conduct has weakened public confidence in the Judiciary’s independence and political neutrality.
In a statement issued on Thursday, September 3, 2026, the group raised concerns about the Chief Justice’s recent engagements with state institutions, including the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), as well as remarks he reportedly made about their performance.
PAGA said comments attributed to Justice Baffoe-Bonnie during his visit to MIIF, particularly his question about what Ghana had achieved over the previous eight years, could be interpreted as a political assessment of the previous administration while appearing to commend the performance of institutions under the current government.
The group argued that such conduct was incompatible with the constitutional independence of the Judiciary and the expectation that the Chief Justice should maintain an appropriate distance from the Executive.
According to PAGA, the Chief Justice’s core responsibilities include protecting the courts, improving justice delivery and preserving public confidence in the impartiality and independence of judges.
The group acknowledged that there was nothing inherently inappropriate about the Chief Justice engaging with public institutions on matters affecting the Judiciary. However, it warned that comments perceived as praising one political administration while criticising another could create an impression of partisan bias.
PAGA also questioned how parties involved in disputes concerning institutions such as MIIF and SSNIT could expect impartial hearings if the head of the Judiciary had previously made favourable comments about those institutions.
The organisation warned that such perceptions could undermine confidence in the courts and potentially create complications if disputes involving the institutions later reached the Supreme Court.
PAGA further accused Justice Baffoe-Bonnie of lowering the standards expected of the office by publicly commenting on the performance of successive political administrations.
It said it had therefore lost confidence in his judgment and his ability to safeguard the political neutrality of the office of Chief Justice.
The group subsequently urged Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to resign and called on the appropriate constitutional bodies to initiate the lawful procedures under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution should he decline.
PAGA also asked the Judicial Council to review the Chief Justice’s engagements with state institutions and establish clear guidelines governing interactions between serving judges, the Executive, political officeholders and state-owned institutions.
The organisation said its position was motivated by the need to preserve public trust in the Judiciary, warning that politically sensitive court decisions could increasingly face public suspicion if citizens believe the head of the Judiciary is aligned with a particular political administration.
About The Author
