Chief Justice’s Alleged Thank-You Tour Of State Enterprises Unprecedented, Dangerous For Democracy – Aid Agenda Group
A civil society organization, Aid Agenda Group, has described reports of a thank-you tour of State Enterprises by the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, as unprecedented and dangerous for Ghana’s democracy.
In a statement, the group said it had received with “utter shock and dismay” reports that the Chief Justice is touring state agencies to thank Chief Executive Officers.
“This has never happened in the history of Ghana,” the group stated.
According to Aid Agenda Group, the Judiciary is an independent arm of government under Article 125 of the 1992 Constitution and is not for the NDC or any political party. It argued that the Chief Justice moving from one state agency to another thanking government appointees erodes public confidence in the independence of the courts.
It also cited what it described as a pattern of political association, referencing a recent picture from Canada with the Vice President and now the alleged thank-you tours. The group questioned why the head of the Judiciary would reduce the integrity of the office to that of a political appointee.
The statement further warned that when the head of the Judiciary begins to behave like a political appointee on a campaign trail, justice delivery is compromised. It said citizens will no longer believe they will get fair justice when the Chief Justice is perceived as partisan.
In light of this, the group called on the Judicial Service to explain the conduct of the Chief Justice to Ghanaians, and on the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to call the Chief Justice to order and defend the integrity of the legal profession.
It also called on the National Peace Council, the National House of Chiefs, and the Office of the National Chief Imam to intervene and speak on the matter before it destroys respect for the judiciary.
The group gave the Chief Justice seven days to explain to Ghanaians why he is touring state enterprises, questioning whether it is to divert attention from real issues facing the judiciary.
“Ghana’s Judiciary must remain neutral, independent and respected. We will not sit aloof while its integrity is dragged into partisan politics,” the statement concluded.
