Chief Justice’s conduct creates doubts about his neutrality – Fifi Boafo

A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) national communications team, Fifi Boafo, has criticised Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie over his recent comments comparing the performance of state institutions under the current and previous administrations.

The Chief Justice made the comments during working visits to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) on Wednesday, September 2.

He commended MIIF for what he described as an impressive turnaround under the current administration and questioned what had been done during the previous eight years.

The comments have since triggered public debate, with critics questioning whether such political comparisons were appropriate for the head of the Judiciary.

Speaking on Accra-based Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on Monday, September 7, Mr Boafo said the Chief Justice’s conduct and perceived closeness to officials of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) could create doubts about his political neutrality.

“Justice must not only be done. It must be seen to be done. You must not create any doubts in the minds of the people that you have taken side, you have taken position,” he said.

Mr Boafo argued that the Chief Justice, as the head of the Judiciary, must be particularly careful about his public engagements and associations because of the potential impact on public confidence in the courts.

He cited the Chief Justice’s attendance at the funeral of the late father-in-law of NDC National Communications Officer Sammy Gyamfi, where he said the Chief Justice was seen interacting closely with NDC officials.

He further referenced the Chief Justice’s attendance at the marriage ceremony of a government spokesperson, as well as his presence at the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and other NDC officials.

According to Mr Boafo, even though judges and justices have personal relationships and political preferences like any other citizen, their position on the Bench requires them to exercise restraint in certain public engagements.

He said the Chief Justice’s recent comments on the performance of state institutions had compounded concerns raised by his previous public appearances.

“The moment the Chief Justice is making preference between the two political parties, it gives room for people to question his neutrality, his fairness in the discharge of his duty,” Mr Boafo said.