Chief Justice’s visits to Executive institutions raise neutrality concerns – Prof Duah

Professor Baffour Agyemang Duah, a respected governance expert, has expressed concern over Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie's decision to conduct official visits to executive institutions. According to Prof Duah, such visits could potentially compromise the Judiciary's neutrality and threaten public confidence in the separation of powers.

While the Chief Justice is entitled to hold political views and critique government performance, Prof Duah argues that his role as head of the Judiciary necessitates a higher degree of restraint. During a recent appearance on JoyFM's Top Story, Prof Duah stated his shock upon watching a video of the Chief Justice addressing state institutions, specifically SSNIT and MIIF.

He emphasized that he could not recall any previous instance of a sitting Chief Justice undertaking visits to executive institutions in such a manner. Prof Duah clarified that while visits to judicial institutions are part of the Chief Justice's official duties, official visits to executive institutions are not. He stressed that such visits were unusual and raised questions about the boundaries between Ghana's three arms of government.

Prof Duah argued that the separation of powers does not imply complete isolation between the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary. Instead, these institutions must work together for the nation's benefit, but there are certain limits to what is acceptable. He questioned why a Chief Justice would choose to make official visits to executive institutions, given that such visits are unprecedented in Ghana.