Ghana Bar Association President Efua Ghartey has condemned comments by the Chief Justice commending some state institutions.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Ghana Bar Association Conference on September 14, Efua Ghartey described the comments by the Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as one that left much to be desired and the subsequent defence by the Judicial Secretary as lacklustre.
“Recent commendation of a public institution by the CJ left much to be desired,” Mrs Ghartey stated.
During official outreach visits to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) on September 2, 2026, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie commended their operational achievements and further questioned what Ghana had been doing over the past eight years, remarking that the recent performance under the current administration made him wonder about the preceding eight years.
But reacting to the development, Efua Ghartey indicated that the Chief Justice ought to stay within his arm of government and not be seen to be partisan.
“The thoughts of the case are in respect of subtle, and sometimes overt communication by members of the judiciary, indicating unequivocally that they are in office to promote the bidding of another arm of government, especially the executive, its ultimate appointing authority.
“We do not want to believe that what happened is a fulfilment of Matthew 12 vs 34, which says, Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.”
She further criticized the Judicial Secretary’s press release responding to widespread condemnation of the Chief Justice.
“Respectfully, the Judicial Secretary’s attempted defence of the Chief Justice was at best lacklustre.
The Bar wishes to serve a reminder that much as it is poised to protect the independence of the judiciary, as per Article 1284 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the guarded must stay within their bounds as dictated by their calling in the Constitution.
“And may I repeat that. The guarded must stay within their bounds as dictated by their calling in the Constitution.”
There have been widespread condemnation of the Chief Justice’s comments with members of the opposition NPP calling for his resignation.
By Laud Adu-Asare
