The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has dismissed calls by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to resign over remarks made during visits to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF). The NPP, in a statement on Thursday, September 3, 2026, argued that his comments raised doubts about judicial neutrality and independence.
Responding on Sunday, September 6, the Bishops described the demand as excessive, stressing that there is no evidence the Chief Justice is partisan or that the Judiciary has been compromised. They affirmed that the Chief Justice is entitled to visit public institutions, review their performance, and commend progress without such actions being deemed improper. At the same time, they acknowledged that certain remarks—such as references to the “past eight years”—could raise concerns about the appearance of impartiality.
The Bishops said particular attention had been drawn to the Chief Justice’s reference to the “past eight years,” noting that the expression could easily be interpreted within Ghana’s political context as a comparison between the current administration and its predecessor. They said this had the effect of making what could have been a straightforward assessment of SSNIT and MIIF appear, at least in perception, to carry a partisan political judgment.
The Conference also acknowledged concerns raised by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) that the comments could create an impression of political endorsement and undermine public confidence in the neutrality of the Judiciary. However, the Bishops said they had taken note of the Judicial Service’s explanation that the Chief Justice’s comments were made in good faith and were not intended to compromise judicial independence.
The Judicial Service, they noted, had also reaffirmed the Chief Justice’s commitment to judicial integrity and equality before the law. “We receive that clarification in good faith,” the Conference said. Despite rejecting the resignation demand, the Bishops said the controversy should serve as a reminder of the importance of judicial ethics and public perception.
They stressed that the Chief Justice occupies a particularly sensitive position because the courts may be required to determine disputes involving the government, political parties and public institutions. “Judicial independence is not only a matter of actual impartiality; it also depends on the visible, unmistakable appearance of impartiality,” the Conference said.
The Bishops nevertheless maintained that the Chief Justice’s comments, by themselves, do not provide sufficient grounds to conclude that he is politically partisan or that the Judiciary has been compromised. “Such conclusions would go well beyond the evidence available to us, and calls for his resignation on this basis alone strike us as disproportionate to the offence,” they said.
The Conference stated that the Chief Justice, like any citizen, is entitled to his personal convictions. However, due to the position he holds, he must exercise greater caution in his public behavior. The Conference suggested that he could have praised the advancements made by SSNIT and MIIF without making comparisons between the performance of successive governments.
Furthermore, the Bishops urged both the ruling party and the opposition to exercise restraint regarding the controversy. They warned the ruling party against interpreting criticism of the Chief Justice as an attack on its record, and they urged the opposition not to use his comments as evidence that the courts have been compromised. “The governing party should not view criticism of the Chief Justice as an attack on its own record, nor should the opposition consider his remarks as proof that the courts have been captured,” the Conference stated.
The Bishops called on all political actors and public officials to demonstrate restraint and safeguard trust in Ghana’s democratic and judicial institutions, regardless of which party is in power.
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