The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has urged Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to exercise restraint and discretion in his public engagements to protect the impartiality and credibility of Ghana’s Judiciary. The call follows remarks attributed to the Chief Justice during visits to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income […]
The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has urged Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to exercise restraint and discretion in his public engagements to protect the impartiality and credibility of Ghana’s Judiciary.
The call follows remarks attributed to the Chief Justice during visits to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
The Chief Justice visited the two institutions with members of the Council for Legal Education and Training.
At MIIF, he praised the institution’s current management but questioned its performance over the “past eight years.”
He similarly contrasted SSNIT’s current operations with previous efforts to dispose of some of its properties, saying the management of the country’s affairs had previously sunk so low.
However, in a statement issued on Friday, September 4, CDD-Ghana said the comments could be interpreted as an explicit comparison between the current and previous administrations.
According to the organisation, such remarks risk creating the perception that the Judiciary is endorsing a particular political administration.
“Such commentary creates a perception of political bias, compromises the Judiciary’s non-partisan mandate, and risks breaching the Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates,” the Center said.
CDD-Ghana also expressed concern about the potential impact of such comments on public confidence in the Judiciary.
The organisation cited findings from the 2024 Afrobarometer Round 10 survey, which showed that only 35% of Ghanaians trust the courts, representing a 21-percentage-point decline from 2012.
The survey further found that 62% of citizens believe judicial decisions are routinely influenced by powerful interests, while about half of respondents questioned whether an ordinary person could obtain a fair trial.
CDD-Ghana stressed that judges are not expected to completely withdraw from public life but must exercise the necessary self-restraint to preserve confidence in the Judiciary.
“Justice must not only be done but be seen to be done,” the Center said, arguing that the principle requires the Judiciary to maintain an unequivocal appearance of neutrality.
The organisation is therefore urging the Chief Justice to strictly adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates and limit public engagements, particularly visits to other state institutions, to matters directly related to court administration or legal development.
CDD-Ghana has also called on the Judicial Council and the Association of Judges and Magistrates to strengthen internal oversight mechanisms and ensure that judicial officers are held accountable regardless of their rank.
The Center said the Judiciary remains a critical pillar of Ghana’s constitutional democracy and cautioned that any erosion of its integrity could have serious implications for democratic stability.
It further urged the Chief Justice to reflect on the responsibilities attached to his office, align his public conduct with the ethical demands of the position and take steps to restore public confidence in the administration of justice.
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