Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party, Haruna Mohammed, has accused Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie of politicising his position following remarks he made during his recent interactions with state-owned entities.
In a video, the Chief Justice was heard making comparative statements regarding the performance of state institutions under the current NDC administration versus the previous NPP government, stating, “Sometimes when we hear how well some state organisations are doing now, we wonder what we really have been doing in the past eight years”.
However, during an appearance on Eyewitness News on Thursday, September 3, Haruna Mohammed contended that such remarks raise questions about the impartiality of the judiciary and diminish public trust in the independence of the Chief Justice’s office.
“He spoke as a politician. He did not speak as a Chief Justice. He did not speak as an independent person. He spoke as a politician,” Mr. Mohammed asserted.
He emphasised that the Chief Justice’s duty is to maintain the independence of the judiciary rather than to advocate for or defend the accomplishments of the government.
Haruna Mohammed also expressed concerns regarding the Chief Justice’s interactions with state institutions and government officials, arguing that these activities blur the lines between the judiciary and the executive.
He consequently urged Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to either apologise and retract his comments or resign from his position.
“The NPP is saying he should either come out to apologise and retract, or resign and become a pure communicator of the NDC,” he stated.
Mr. Mohammed cautioned that failing to address this matter could undermine public confidence in the judiciary, highlighting the importance of safeguarding the independence and integrity of state institutions.
