Catholic Bishops urge Chief Justice to avoid remarks that could raise doubts about impartiality

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has urged Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to refrain from making public remarks that could undermine the perceived impartiality of the judiciary. This caution came after comments the Chief Justice made during visits to public institutions, specifically the Social Security and National Insurance Trust and the Minerals Income Investment Fund, on September 2, 2026.

The bishops expressed concern that the Chief Justice's reference to the "past eight years" could be perceived as a political comparison between the current and previous administrations, potentially raising doubts about the judiciary's neutrality. While acknowledging a clarification from the Judicial Service that the Chief Justice's remarks were made in good faith and were not intended to compromise judicial independence, the bishops emphasized that the incident highlights a broader issue of public confidence in the judiciary.

They stressed that the office of Chief Justice is distinct from that of a typical public commentator and that judicial independence hinges on the visible appearance of impartiality. The bishops cautioned against making accusations of partisanship against the Chief Justice and rejected calls for his resignation, instead suggesting that political actors should approach the controversy as an opportunity for reflection rather than partisan gain.

Brief written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.