Such commentary creates a perception of political bias – CDD-Ghana to Chief Justice

The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has urged Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to exercise greater restraint and discretion in his public engagements to protect the perceived impartiality and credibility of Ghana’s Judiciary.

The call follows comments 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) with members of the Council for Legal Education and Training.

According to CDD-Ghana, remarks made during the engagements appeared to draw comparisons between the performance of the current and previous administrations, potentially creating an impression of political endorsement.

At MIIF, the Chief Justice praised the institution’s current management but questioned its performance over the “past eight years.” At SSNIT, he similarly contrasted the institution’s present operations with previous efforts to sell some of its properties, describing the management of the country’s affairs at the time as having sunk to a low point.

In a statement issued on Friday, September 4, CDD-Ghana said such comments could create concerns about the Judiciary’s political neutrality.

“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 said the comments were particularly concerning given what it described as declining public confidence in the Judiciary.

It cited findings from the 2024 Afrobarometer Round 10 survey, which showed that only 35% of Ghanaians expressed trust in the courts, representing a 21-percentage-point decline since 2012.

The survey further indicated that 62% of citizens believed judicial decisions were routinely influenced by powerful interests, while about half of respondents expressed doubts about whether an ordinary person could receive a fair trial.

CDD-Ghana stressed that judges were not expected to completely withdraw from public life but must exercise appropriate self-restraint in their public conduct to preserve confidence in the Judiciary.

“Justice must not only be done but be seen to be done,” the Center said, emphasising that the principle requires the Judiciary to maintain an unequivocal appearance of neutrality.

The organisation therefore called on the Chief Justice to strictly comply with the Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates and limit public engagements, including visits to other state institutions, to issues directly connected to court administration or legal development.

It also urged the Judicial Council and the Association of Judges and Magistrates to strengthen internal oversight mechanisms and ensure that judicial officers are held accountable irrespective of their positions.

CDD-Ghana said the Judiciary remained a crucial pillar of Ghana’s constitutional democracy and cautioned that any deterioration in its integrity could have implications for democratic stability.

The Center further urged the Chief Justice to reflect on the responsibilities attached to his office, ensure that his public conduct meets the ethical standards expected of the Judiciary and take steps to rebuild the public confidence it considers vital to the administration of justice.