Chief Justice’s “Past Eight Years” Comment Was Too Political — Critics Warn

Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has come under intense criticism following comments comparing the recent performance of some state institutions with what happened during the previous eight years.

The controversy arose after the Chief Justice visited the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

During the visit, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie praised the institutions for their reported progress and questioned how they had been managed previously.

“Sometimes when we hear how well some state organisations are doing now, we wonder what we really have been doing in the past eight years,” he stated.

Referring to SSNIT’s previous attempt to sell some of its assets, including the Labadi Beach Hotel, the Chief Justice reportedly added that the situation made him wonder how Ghana had “sunk so low.” He also urged managers of MIIF to work towards the success of President John Dramani Mahama’s development agenda. Citi Newsroom⁠

The remarks have generated a heated national debate, with critics arguing that the phrase “past eight years” could reasonably be interpreted as a direct criticism of the former New Patriotic Party government, which governed Ghana from January 2017 to January 2025.

Legal scholar Professor Kwaku Asare said the concern was not necessarily whether the Chief Justice’s assessment was accurate, but whether the language was appropriate for the head of Ghana’s Judiciary.

According to him, the reference to the past eight years carries a clear partisan meaning in Ghana’s political discourse and could create the impression that the Chief Justice was comparing the NPP administration with the current National Democratic Congress government.

Gushegu MP Alhassan Tampuli similarly accused Justice Baffoe-Bonnie of entering the political arena and urged him to protect the neutrality of the Judiciary.

“Keep off the arena of politics and allow us politicians to play there,” Mr Tampuli said, arguing that the Chief Justice had effectively “worn a political jersey.” MyJoyOnline⁠

The NPP subsequently called on the Chief Justice to retract the remarks or resign. In a statement signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party argued that the comments compromised public confidence in the independence and political neutrality of the Judiciary.

The party was particularly concerned about the Chief Justice’s reported appeal for public officials to help ensure the success of President Mahama’s agenda. It argued that such language could cause citizens appearing before the courts—especially in politically sensitive cases involving the government—to question the Judiciary’s impartiality. Asaase Radio⁠

Other public figures, however, have defended the Chief Justice. IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe reportedly argued that there was nothing inherently wrong with the head of the Judiciary commenting on the performance of public institutions when available information supported his observations.

Supporters have also maintained that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie was encouraging responsible management of state resources rather than declaring support for a political party.

The facts establish that the Chief Justice made the disputed remarks and referred specifically to the “past eight years.” Whether the comments amounted to partisan politics remains a matter of interpretation.

Nevertheless, critics argue that because the Chief Justice leads an independent arm of government, his public statements must avoid language capable of creating either an actual or perceived political alignment. The Judiciary’s credibility, they maintain, depends not only on judges acting impartially but also on the public believing that they are impartial.

As of September 4, 2026, the Judicial Service had not issued an official response to the NPP’s demand for a retraction or resignation.