Political tensions have erupted in Ghana after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) launched a fierce attack on Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, accusing him of crossing the line into partisan politics with recent comments about the performance of state institutions.
The controversy follows remarks made by the Chief Justice during a visit to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. While praising improvements at MIIF and other public institutions, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie questioned what Ghana had been doing during the previous eight years.
The comments quickly sparked debate because the previous eight-year period coincided with the NPP administration. Critics argue that such a comparison, coming from the head of the Judiciary, could create perceptions of political bias.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday, September 3, the NPP accused the Chief Justice of making comments that appeared to favour the current National Democratic Congress administration over its predecessor.
The opposition party has consequently demanded that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie retract what it describes as partisan commentary or resign from office. The NPP went further, saying that if he wishes to engage openly in partisan politics, he should leave the Bench and formally join the NDC.
The party also raised concerns about the constitutional independence of the Judiciary, arguing that Ghana’s Chief Justice must remain publicly neutral and avoid statements that could cause citizens to question whether political cases will receive impartial treatment.
Legal scholar Professor Kwaku Asare has separately cautioned the Chief Justice about entering political territory, arguing that references comparing the current administration with the previous eight years could undermine public confidence in judicial independence.
The controversy is expected to fuel another heated political debate over the delicate relationship between Ghana’s Judiciary and political leadership.
As of the latest reports reviewed, the Chief Justice had not publicly responded directly to the NPP’s demand for a retraction or resignation.
With the NPP promising further action on the matter, the battle over the Chief Justice’s comments may only be beginning.
