CJ Baffoe-Bonnie’s vetting a dangerous departure from established constitutional order

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has described the vetting of Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as a “dangerous departure from established constitutional order” by the John Mahama administration.

According to the opposition party, the process that led to Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s nomination, the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, was tainted with constitutional irregularities.

In a statement issued on Monday, November 10, and signed by NPP General Secretary Justin Koduah Frimpong, the party asserted that the government’s decision to proceed with the nomination despite ongoing suits over the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo represents a “grave threat” to the rule of law.

The party argued that the executive should have exercised restraint until the courts had determined the legality of the former Chief Justice’s removal.

“The decision by the Mahama administration to proceed with a nomination for this high office, while these pivotal cases remain unheard and undefended on their merits, constitutes a pre-emptive assault on the judicial function and a dangerous departure from established constitutional order,” the statement said in part.

It added that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s own involvement in cases linked to the removal of his predecessor raises concerns of conflict of interest and breaches judicial propriety.

The party cited his role in interlocutory proceedings in Assafuah v. Attorney-General, a case it said was “central to determining the status of the Chief Justice’s office.”

“The appearance of a conflict of interest is palpable and undermines public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary and his stewardship,” the statement stressed.

The NPP urged Ghanaians to resist what it called attempts to erode the country’s constitutional order.