‘Apologise if you accept you erred’ – Political analyst tells Chief Justice

Political commentator Dr Bernard Tutu-Boahene has advised Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to apologize and retract his recent remarks on state-owned enterprises if he acknowledges any errors, claiming such an admission would bolster his reputation instead of diminishing it. Commenting on Adom TV's 'Nnawotwe Yi,' Tutu-Boahene urged the Chief Justice to examine the rules governing his position and, upon realizing any mistakes, issue a retraction and apology.

"If he reflects on the rules governing his position and realizes he was wrong, there's nothing stopping him from retracting his comments and offering an apology. That would actually earn him more respect," he stated.

His remarks came in response to controversy surrounding Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie's comments during visits to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) on September 2nd, where he praised the institutions' performance and questioned Ghana's actions over the past eight years.

Tutu-Boahene emphasized that chief justices, judicial services, and lawyers globally adhere to the Bangalore Principles, which emphasize impartiality and propriety. He argued that the Chief Justice should keep such observations private and questioned their wisdom given his high-ranking position. "What the Chief Justice said isn't wrong because he's a Ghanaian and is allowed to share his thoughts. But as the Bible says, 'Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial,'" he remarked.

Tutu-Boahene also contended that the comments undermine the standards the Chief Justice is expected to uphold. He highlighted that the Bangalore Principles guide other judges and lawyers, and a situation involving the Chief Justice questioning their actions would call into question his moral standing. Measured against these principles, he argued, the Chief Justice's integrity and credibility are now called into question.

He accused the Judicial Service's response to the controversy of exacerbating the situation rather than resolving it. While the Service claimed the Chief Justice's remarks were made "in good faith," Tutu-Boahene found this response defensive. "The response from the Judicial Service came across more defensive. They should instead tell Ghanaians that regardless of what has happened, they will operate with fairness, truth, and the law. Defending what the Chief Justice said would have been better," he argued.

Tutu-Boahene connected the episode to a broader erosion of political neutrality among public officials in Ghana. He noted that Article 276 of the 1992 Constitution prohibits chiefs from engaging in partisan politics, yet this rule is frequently disregarded without retribution. He pointed out that public servants, who are also barred from active politics, face similar disregard for the rules.

He suggested that Ghanaians now believe they understand democracy and human rights laws well enough to act accordingly, stating, "People are just doing as they please." However, he cautioned that failing to protect political neutrality could expose Ghana's democracy, politics, and national security to danger. Tutu-Boahene appealed to heads of public institutions to adhere to the rules governing their offices, warning that once appointed, there are certain matters best addressed in private rather than publicly.