Your comment left much to be desired – GBA condemns CJ’s remarks on SOEs

The Ghana Bar Association has strongly rebuked Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie's recent remarks regarding state-owned enterprises, deeming them inappropriate and disrespectful. This criticism came to light following his visit to the Minerals Income Investment Fund on September 2, where he praised the institution and other public bodies under the current administration.

Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie's comments, according to GBA President Efua Ghartey, were particularly troubling due to their comparison to a previous administration's output. This comparison, she argued, was a violation of the principle that a person's words should reflect their character and not be influenced by external factors. Ghartey emphasized that the Bar was wary of interpreting the Chief Justice's remarks as a manifestation of a broader sentiment, but felt compelled to address the issue nonetheless, drawing a parallel to Matthew 12:34 in the Bible.

She also criticized the Judicial Secretary's attempt to defend the Chief Justice's statements, calling it insufficient. Despite their concern, the GBA reassured that their stance was not meant to undermine the Judiciary or its independence, which is guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution. They reiterated their commitment to protecting the independence of the Judiciary, as per Article 128(4) of the Constitution, while simultaneously urging those in public office to respect the constitutional boundaries set for them.