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Friday, 18 September 2026
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Friday, 18 September 2026
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Ghanaian press · Organization

Judicial Service

Also known as: Judicial Service of Ghana · the Judicial Service

Judicial Service — Ghana's judiciary administration body that has clarified remarks by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie regarding state institutions in September 2026.

2026-04-302026-09-18

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. April 2026
  2. Joy Online

    The Judicial Service has relocated the Circuit Court ‘A’ and District Magistrate Court ‘B’ in Sunyani to the Sunyani High Court premises following a fire outbreak that engulfed the court building, a follow-up by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) has revealed.

    Court premises declared crime scene as Judicial Service relocates Sunyani Circuit, Magistrate Courts
Politics

Deputy AG says GBA applies double standards to Chief Justice criticism

The News

Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai has accused the Ghana Bar Association of selective criticism over Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie's recent remarks about state institutions, arguing the GBA's response is inconsistent with how it treated similar comments by previous Chief Justices. Dr Srem-Sai contended that if the GBA opposes political comments by Chief Justices, it should condemn all such remarks consistently rather than selectively depending on political circumstances.

14 September 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 14 September

  1. Deputy AG says GBA applies double standards to Chief Justice criticism

    Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai has accused the Ghana Bar Association of selective criticism over Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie's recent remarks about state institutions, arguing the GBA's response is inconsistent with how it treated similar comments by previous Chief Justices. Dr Srem-Sai contended that if the GBA opposes political comments by Chief Justices, it should condemn all such remarks consistently rather than selectively depending on political circumstances.

    14 September 2026 · Joy Online

  2. GBA President criticises Chief Justice over praise for state institutions

    The Ghana Bar Association President has criticised Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie for commending state-owned enterprises including SSNIT and MIIF during recent visits, with the GBA President suggesting his comments raised concerns about impartiality. The Judicial Service stated the observations were made in good faith and did not intend to undermine judicial independence, though civil society groups and faith-based organisations have expressed concerns.

    14 September 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

  3. GBA President criticizes Chief Justice's remarks on state-owned enterprises

    Ghana Bar Association President Efua Ghartey expressed disappointment with remarks attributed to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie concerning state-owned enterprises, saying they raised concerns among legal professionals. She also criticized the Judicial Service's response as inadequate, while emphasizing the Bar's commitment to judicial independence within constitutional limits.

    14 September 2026 · Joy Online

  4. GBA President criticizes Judicial Service's defence of Chief Justice

    Ghana Bar Association President Efua Ghartey has described the Judicial Service's defence of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie over his partisan comments as "at best lacklustre," arguing that judges must remain within constitutional boundaries and that the Chief Justice's remarks comparing public institutions' performance under different administrations left much to be desired.

    14 September 2026 · Joy Online

  5. Ghana has domestic violence laws, but victims face financial barriers

    Commentary examines Ghana's Domestic Violence Act and related support structures, questioning whether survivors can afford to access the legal protections and services available to them, including DOVVSU, courts, and the One-Stop Centre in Accra.

    14 September 2026 · Joy Online

Monday 7 September

  1. Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie's institutional comparison remarks spark debate

    Ghana's Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has faced scrutiny following comments comparing the performance of state institutions under the current administration with the previous eight years, drawing criticism from the opposition NPP and civil society over concerns about judicial neutrality. The Judicial Service clarified that the observations were made in good faith and were not intended to undermine judicial independence.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Catholic bishops defend Chief Justice's visits, query political remarks

    The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference said there was nothing improper about Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie visiting public institutions and commending improvements, but expressed concern that his reference to "the past eight years" during visits to SSNIT and MIIF could be interpreted as a political comparison between administrations.

    7 September 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

  3. Calls for Chief Justice's resignation over remarks too extreme

    International corporate lawyer Vicky Bright has described calls for Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to resign over recent comments on state institutions as "a little bit excessive," noting that while his remarks raise legitimate concerns about judicial restraint and appearance of bias, they do not automatically constitute misconduct warranting removal.

    7 September 2026 · Joy Online

Sunday 6 September

  1. Catholic Bishops advise Chief Justice against comparing government records

    The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference has urged Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to avoid comparing successive governments' records when commenting on public institutions, saying his reference to the "past eight years" during September 2 visits to SSNIT and MIIF could be seen as a political comparison that risks weakening confidence in judicial impartiality.

    6 September 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Catholic Bishops reject Chief Justice resignation calls

    The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference has rejected calls for Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie's resignation over political remarks made during visits to public institutions, though it acknowledged that his reference to "the past eight years" could reasonably be understood as partisan and damage the appearance of judicial impartiality.

    6 September 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Catholic Bishops caution Chief Justice on remarks doubting judicial neutrality

    The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference has cautioned Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie against public remarks that could create doubts about the political neutrality of the Judiciary. The Bishops said the Chief Justice's reference to "the past eight years" during visits to SSNIT and MIIF on September 2, 2026 could reasonably be understood in a political context and took on the character of a partisan judgment, though the Judicial Service later clarified the remarks were made in good faith.

    6 September 2026 · Joy Online

Saturday 5 September

  1. Upper West High Court construction stalled after 26 years

    Lawyers and prosecutors in the Upper West Region have expressed strong displeasure over the abandoned construction of a regional High Court complex that has been stalled for approximately 20 years. Despite repeated assurances from national delegations, the contractor has abandoned the three-storey court structure, leaving the region without a purpose-built modern courtroom and forcing legal practitioners to work from deteriorating makeshift buildings.

    5 September 2026 · Joy Online

  2. Political analyst urges Chief Justice to apologise for state enterprise comments

    Dr Bernard Tutu-Boahene has called on Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to retract and apologise for remarks he made during visits to the Minerals Income Investment Fund and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust on 2 September, arguing that the Bangalore Principles governing judicial conduct require impartiality and propriety. Tutu-Boahene said such observations should have been kept private given the Chief Justice's office, though he acknowledged the Chief Justice is entitled to share his views as a Ghanaian citizen.

    5 September 2026 · Joy Online

  3. Chief Justice's remark about past eight years sparks political debate

    Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie made an observation during a visit to the Minerals Income Investment Fund, wondering what Ghana had been doing "in the past eight years," a comment that drew political attention. The remark has been interpreted by the opposition as a critique of the Akufo-Addo administration's record, highlighting how even neutral statements become politically charged in Ghana's context.

    5 September 2026 · Joy Online

  4. Political activist questions CJ fitness over SOE comments

    Dr Arthur Kobina Kennedy said Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie does not need ethical laws to recognise that his recent comments about state-owned institutions were inappropriate, and questioned whether the CJ is worthy of office if he does. The Chief Justice had praised SSNIT and MIIF performance during visits on September 2, questioning what Ghana had accomplished over the previous eight years.

    5 September 2026 · Joy Online

  5. Chief Justice should focus on judiciary, not state agencies – Kennedy

    Political activist Dr Arthur Kobina Kennedy has urged Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to stop touring state-owned enterprises and redirect his efforts toward addressing challenges within Ghana's Judiciary, saying such tours and remarks about SOE performance fall outside the proper scope of the judicial leader's role.

    5 September 2026 · Joy Online

  6. Arthur Kennedy calls on Chief Justice to apologise for SOE remarks

    Political activist Dr Arthur Kobina Kennedy has called on Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to apologise for comments made during visits to state-owned enterprises, saying the remarks were beneath his office's dignity and risked creating the impression of taking a political position. The Chief Justice faced criticism after praising the Minerals Income Investment Fund and other public institutions during recent visits, questioning what Ghana had been doing over the previous eight years.

    5 September 2026 · Joy Online

  7. Chief Justice clarifies comments on state institutions amid public criticism

    The Judicial Service reaffirmed Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie's commitment to judicial independence after public criticism of remarks he made during outreach visits to SSNIT and MIIF, where he praised improvements in their operations and questioned Ghana's performance over the previous eight years.

    5 September 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 4 September

  1. Judicial Service defends Chief Justice's SOE remarks

    The Judicial Service clarified that Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie's recent comments about state-owned enterprises during visits to SSNIT and MIIF were made in good faith and not intended to undermine judicial independence, following mixed public reaction to his observations.

    4 September 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 3 September

  1. NPP accuses judiciary of biased justice against political opponents

    The New Patriotic Party has accused Ghana's justice system of operating at "two speeds," with legal processes moving rapidly in cases involving government opponents while proceeding slowly for government allies, claiming this reflects coordination between the Judiciary and Executive to target political opponents.

    3 September 2026 · Joy Online

  2. NPP criticises Chief Justice over court infrastructure neglect

    The New Patriotic Party has accused the Chief Justice of neglecting Ghana's deteriorating court infrastructure—including dilapidated courtrooms, overwhelmed registries, and poor working conditions—while instead focusing on monitoring the activities of the Executive.

    3 September 2026 · Joy Online

  3. NPP demands Chief Justice resign over alleged partisan comments

    The NPP has called for the Chief Justice's immediate resignation, alleging he made partisan political comments during a visit to state institutions, praising their performance and questioning Ghana's progress over the previous eight years.

    3 September 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 2 September

  1. Chief Justice defends judges sitting during Ghana's legal vacation

    Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has defended the practice of judges sitting during Ghana's legal vacation, stating that legal vacation does not mean the administration of justice halts and that emergency cases require immediate attention. The comment comes amid ongoing debate within Ghana's legal fraternity and a Supreme Court case brought by MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah challenging the practice.

    2 September 2026 · Joy Online

Thursday 27 August

  1. Supreme Court nominee denies knowing who facilitated nomination

    Justice Edward Amoako Asante, appearing before Parliament's Appointments Committee, rejected suggestions that his nomination was influenced by any individual, saying he followed constitutional process and qualifies based on his qualifications and 20+ years as a judge.

    27 August 2026 · Joy Online

Tuesday 25 August

  1. FDA intensifies monitoring to ensure iodised salt reaches consumers

    The Food and Drugs Authority has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that salt produced for human consumption is adequately iodised and meets required safety standards, intensifying monitoring efforts to protect consumers from iodine deficiency disorders. The authority cautioned salt producers and transporters against conveying industrial and edible salt in the same vehicle, citing risks of cross-contamination and misuse.

    25 August 2026 · Joy Online

Saturday 15 August

  1. Chief Justice's vacation warrants cover many courts, not just sensitive cases

    International corporate lawyer Victoria Bright said the Chief Justice's warrants authorizing judges to sit during legal vacation were issued across 26 courts nationally and are not confined to specific politically sensitive cases, rejecting claims that only high-profile cases were selected for hearing.

    15 August 2026 · Joy Online

Friday 14 August

  1. Prime Insight to examine legal vacation and Goldman Sachs bribery issues

    Joy Online reports that Prime Insight, a current affairs programme, will on Saturday, August 15, examine two legal and governance issues: the controversy over whether trials can proceed during the legal vacation, and the conviction of former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko in the United States. The two-hour programme will bring together political and legal voices to discuss their implications for Ghana's justice system and anti-corruption efforts.

    14 August 2026 · Joy Online

  2. MP challenges Chief Justice directive on judges' legal vacation work

    Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, MP for Ofoase Ayirebi, has filed a writ at the Supreme Court challenging the Chief Justice's decision to allow judges to hear selected criminal cases during legal vacation, arguing it violates constitutional provisions on equality, fairness, and workers' rights, and constitutes selective justice.

    14 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times

  3. Oppong Nkrumah challenges Chief Justice directives on judges during legal vacation

    Ofoase-Ayirebi MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has filed a writ at the Supreme Court challenging the Chief Justice's directives requiring selected judges to conduct criminal trials during the legal vacation, arguing the arrangement raises questions about equality before the law and access to justice.

    14 August 2026 · Joy Online

Wednesday 12 August

  1. Former Deputy AG challenges Deputy AG's claim on Atta Akyea letter

    Former Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah questioned the basis of the Deputy Attorney General's claim that Samuel Atta Akyea had not formally written to the court to explain his absence during legal vacation. Tuah-Yeboah said that under proper practice, a lawyer communicates inability to attend court to the judge through the court's registrar, and questioned how the Deputy AG could know whether the registrar received such a letter.

    12 August 2026 · Joy Online

Judicial Service — Ghanaian press coverage · Ghana Minute