The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has cautioned Chief Justice Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie over recent public comments that were perceived to have political undertones, but has rejected calls for his resignation.
The Bishops said that while the Chief Justice must be careful to avoid statements that could create the perception of political bias, asking him to step down over the remarks would be disproportionate.
The controversy stems from comments made by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie on September 2, 2026, during working visits to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).
His reference to the “past eight years” was interpreted by some critics as a political comparison between previous and current administrations, sparking calls for him to resign.
In a statement, the GCBC said the incident did not provide sufficient grounds to conclude that the Chief Justice is partisan or that Ghana’s Judiciary has been politically compromised.
The Conference stressed that the Chief Justice is entitled to his personal views and convictions, but his public conduct must be guided by the need to maintain public confidence in the neutrality of the Judiciary.
The Bishops also warned that even remarks that are not intended to be political could create doubts about judicial impartiality, particularly because the courts may be called upon to determine cases involving the government, political parties and public institutions.
According to the GCBC, judicial independence goes beyond actual impartiality and also requires the appearance of impartiality.
The Conference said the Chief Justice could have highlighted the achievements of SSNIT and MIIF on their own merits without making comparisons that could be interpreted along political lines.
The Bishops therefore urged greater caution in future public engagements, while maintaining that calls for Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s resignation over the incident alone are not justified.
