The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has called on Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to exercise restraint and discretion in his public engagements to safeguard the impartiality and credibility of the Judiciary.
The call follows remarks made by the Chief Justice on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, during visits to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), alongside members of the Council for Legal Education and Training.
The Chief Justice, while at MIIF, praised the current management of the institution but questioned its performance over the “past eight years.” At SSNIT, he similarly contrasted the institution’s current operations with previous attempts to sell some of its properties, lamenting that the management of the country’s affairs had previously sunk so low.
In a statement issued on Friday, September 4, CDD-Ghana argued that the remarks amounted to an explicit comparison between the current and previous administrations and created the perception of partisan political endorsement.
“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.
The organisation warned that the comments come at a time when public confidence in Ghana’s Judiciary is already under significant pressure. It cited the 2024 Afrobarometer Round 10 survey, which found that only 35% of Ghanaians trust the courts, representing a 21-percentage-point decline since 2012.
The survey also found that 62% of citizens believe judicial decisions are routinely influenced by powerful interests, while about half of respondents doubt whether an ordinary person can obtain a fair trial.
CDD-Ghana stressed that judges are not required to withdraw completely from public life but must exercise the necessary self-restraint to preserve public confidence in the Judiciary.
“Justice must not only be done but be seen to be done,” the Center said, stressing that this principle requires an unequivocal appearance of neutrality.
The organisation has therefore urged the Chief Justice to adhere strictly to the Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates and limit public appearances, including engagements with other state institutions, to matters directly related to court administration or legal development.
It has also called on the Judicial Council and the Association of Judges and Magistrates to strengthen internal oversight and ensure that judicial officers are held accountable regardless of their rank.
CDD-Ghana said the Judiciary remains a critical pillar of Ghana’s constitutional democracy and warned that any erosion of its integrity could undermine democratic stability.
The Center further urged the Chief Justice to reflect on the responsibilities of his office, align his public conduct with its ethical demands and take steps to restore the public confidence it considers essential to the administration of justice.
Source: Citi Newsroom
