Stop intimidating courts, substitute public opinion for judicial determination – CJ Baffoe-Bonnie cautions media

Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has urged journalists to avoid conducting media trials of cases pending before the courts, warning that prejudicial reporting could undermine the right to a fair trial and weaken the rule of law.

Speaking at the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards in Accra on Saturday, November 7, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie reminded media practitioners that individuals accused of criminal offences must be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

"A person accused of an offence remains innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction," the Chief Justice said, cautioning journalists against passing judgment on cases before the courts have examined the evidence.

While acknowledging the media's constitutional responsibility to hold public institutions accountable, he stressed the need to distinguish between legitimate criticism of judicial decisions and attempts to influence or intimidate judges handling ongoing cases.

"Criticism of judicial decisions is legitimate. Attempts to intimidate the courts or substitute public opinion for judicial determination are not," he told the gathering.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie referred to Article 125 of the 1992 Constitution, which provides that judicial authority derives from the people and is exercised on their behalf by the Judiciary.

He explained that an independent judicial system exists to protect the rights of ordinary citizens and ensure justice, rather than to serve the interests of judges.

"The media must remain free to scrutinise public institutions, examine the administration of justice and bring legitimate concerns to public attention, while the judiciary must remain open to legitimate scrutiny without compromising its independence," he added.

The Chief Justice also raised concerns about the safety of journalists, condemning attacks, threats and harassment against media workers.

His remarks echoed figures from the GJA indicating that more than 50 attacks against journalists had been recorded since 2022.

"The protection of journalists is not simply a matter of professional welfare. It is a necessary condition for the protection of the people's rights to know," he said.

He further encouraged journalists to uphold accuracy, fairness and professional standards, particularly amid the growing challenges of digital misinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence.

The awards ceremony, chaired by the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, was held under the theme: "Celebrating Excellence, Advancing Media Freedom and Combating Hate Speech in the Digital Age."

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin and President John Dramani Mahama attended the event, where the President pledged GH¢10 million towards the establishment of the Media Development Fund.

The Chief Justice's comments came ahead of the nationwide reopening of the courts on Monday, following the suspension of the strike by the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), which had disrupted court operations and contributed to delays in the hearing of cases.