{
  "id": 5977850,
  "title": "The Chief Justice is not a Touring Minister: Baffoe-Bonnie’s SOE visits are unconstitutional officiousness",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/the-chief-justice-is-not-a-touring-minister-baffoe-bonnies-soe-visits",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-06T12:46:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/the-chief-justice-is-not-a-touring-minister-baffoe-bonnies-soe-visits-are-unconstitutional-officiousness/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Chief Justice's State Owned Enterprises (SOE) visits have been deemed unconstitutional by one reporter. These tours to assess SOE performance are seen as a breach of separation of powers and an act of political interference. The Constitution assigns the Chief Justice only two roles: as the Head of the Judiciary and presiding judge of the Supreme Court. Visits to SOEs, which are executive-owned entities, are deemed ultra vires, or beyond the Chief Justice's authority. This unconstitutional action destroys the appearance of judicial independence, potentially biasing the judge when presiding over future SOE cases. Furthermore, the Chief Justice's comments on SOE performance are seen as political work that should not be undertaken by the Chief Justice. Judges are permitted to make general remarks within their judicial function, but leaving the courtroom to comment on economic matters is considered obiter dictum, or outside the court, and thus unconstitutional. The Chief Justice's role should remain focused on upholding the judiciary's independence and not encroach upon the executive arm of government.",
  "summary": "INTRODUCTION We live in very uncertain and precarious times. If one would heed the advice of the prophet Amos (in Amos 5:13), silence, outright silence will become our lot. Yet, we are invited into CITIZENSHIP by the Constitution, 1992 in Articles 2, 3, and 41 to be brief. So, carefully and cautiously, we shall proceed […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Chief Justice's SOE visits deemed unconstitutional",
    "Breach of separation of powers and political interference",
    "Chief Justice's comments on SOE performance as obiter dictum"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Row brews in Punjab as Centre bypasses state response to appoint High Court Chief Justice",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/row-brews-in-punjab-as-centre-bypasses-state-response-to-appoint-high",
        "published": "2026-09-06T10:44:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "The Chief Justice is not a Touring Minister: Baffoe-Bonnie’s SOE visits are unconstitutional officiousness",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/the-chief-justice-is-not-a-touring-minister-baffoe-bonnies-soe-visits-5997762",
        "published": "2026-09-06T14:46:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "APTF temporarily suspends protest after Chief Minister’s assurance on TET",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/aptf-temporarily-suspends-protest-after-chief-ministers-assurance-on",
        "published": "2026-09-06T15:16:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}