Senior member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Arthur Kennedy, has urged Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to focus his attention on challenges confronting Ghana’s judiciary rather than commenting on the management of state institutions.
Dr Kennedy said the Chief Justice’s recent remarks on institutions including the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) were inappropriate and fell below the standards expected of the country’s highest judicial office.
“What you did was beneath the dignity of your office, and it did not reflect well on you or the judiciary,” Dr Kennedy said in a video shared on X on Friday, September 4.
His comments follow controversy surrounding the Chief Justice’s assessment of the performance and management of some state institutions.
While some members of the public have defended the remarks as an expression of opinion, the NPP has accused the Chief Justice of engaging in political commentary and called on him to retract his comments or resign and join the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dr Kennedy, however, said the controversy should not be reduced to partisan politics, warning supporters of both major political parties against what he described as hypocrisy.
He said NPP supporters who defended former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo but were now criticising the current Chief Justice were being inconsistent.
Similarly, he said NDC supporters who had criticised Justice Torkornoo but were now defending Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie were also guilty of partisan hypocrisy.
Focus on judicial reforms
Dr Kennedy said the Chief Justice had several pressing issues within the judiciary that required his attention and could provide an opportunity for him to leave a lasting legacy.
He cited delays in the appellate process, prolonged imprisonment of some inmates, missing case dockets, alleged judicial corruption and concerns over the assignment of judicial panels among the issues requiring attention.
“Sir, if you are looking for things to do, there are a lot of things you can improve in our judiciary,” he said.
According to him, addressing those challenges would contribute more meaningfully to strengthening public confidence in the judiciary than engaging in public assessments of the performance of other state institutions.
Dr Kennedy also appealed to the Chief Justice to acknowledge the concerns surrounding his remarks and apologise.
“The Chief Justice does not need ethical laws to know that what he did was wrong,” he said.
“If he does, then maybe he is not worthy of his office. A Chief Justice instinctively must know that things like this are inappropriate and avoid them. He is the exemplar for our judiciary.”
He urged Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to apologise and commit to avoiding similar conduct in the future.
“I hope you can find it in your heart to apologise and pledge to do no more,” Dr Kennedy said.
He further appealed to the Chief Justice to use his tenure to tackle longstanding challenges within the judiciary, saying such reforms could help strengthen the institution and enhance public confidence in the administration of justice.
“I urge you, Mr. Chief Justice, not to disappoint us,” he added.
