Ghana's judicial institution, headed by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, facing scrutiny over remarks comparing government performance and institutional visits.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Joy Online
… to the former Information Minister, he was surprised by the Chief Justice’s decision to tour institutions such as the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), arguing that such engagements were unusual for the Judiciary …
Oppong Nkrumah questions Chief Justice’s ‘unprecedented’ tour of state-owned institutionsJoy Online
… He explained that although judges, like other workers, are entitled to annual leave, the Judiciary has adopted a collective vacation period in August and September rather than requiring judges to take their leave individually. …
‘Cases don’t go on leave’ – Chief Justice defends judges sitting during legal vacationJoy Online
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has proposed wide-ranging changes to Ghana’s 1992 Constitution aimed at reducing presidential powers, strengthening Parliament and the Judiciary, deepening local democracy and improving accountability in public institutions. …
Check out IEA’s 18-point position on key Constitutional review proposalsThe Chronicle
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to the independence of Ghana’s Judiciary, stressing that judicial autonomy is a constitutional guarantee and not a favour from the Executive. …
Mahama Reaffirms Judicial Independence, Commits to Staff WelfareJoy Online
… Its work has involved engagement with government institutions, Parliament, the Judiciary, the Ghana Prisons Service, the Attorney-General’s Office and other stakeholders. …
Ghana has made progress on human rights under UN UPR but gaps remain – Osei OwusuJoy Online
… Mr Anthony said the process requires coordination not only among law enforcement agencies and ministries but also with the Judiciary, which will be required to enforce the laws and facilitate prosecution where necessary. …
MTTD officers will remain on roads despite traffic technology rollout – Interior MinistryJoy Online
… He urged political actors to protect Parliament, the Judiciary, the media and independent constitutional institutions to safeguard democracy and to regard public office as a temporary trust. …
NAPO calls for evidence-based reassessment of Busia’s administration in the Second RepublicJoy Online
… The Constitution, 1992, under clause(1) of Article 125, provides that “Justice emanates from the people and shall be administered in the name of the Republic by the Judiciary which shall be independent and subject only to this Constitution.” Similarly, clause(2) of Article 125 pr …
Why Ghana needs Regional Tribunals and why history shouldn’t prevent their establishmentJoy Online
… Planning gets short-circuited by last-minute “directions.” Institutions like the Electoral Commission, Judiciary, Security Services, Parliament, and the civil service are weakened because people bypass them for backchannel blessings. …
From Altar to Aisle: How Ghana turned “prophets” into kingmakersThe Chronicle
… Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, CJ In a letter to the Judiciary, signed by GBA President Efua Ghartey, the association said three law firms had reported receiving notices arising from warrants directing certain judges to continue hearing cases despite the legal vacation. …
GBA Takes On Judiciary Over Hearing Of High-Profile Cases During VacationAt the opening of the 69th Legal Year, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie urged the Judiciary to strengthen the foundations of justice rather than merely introducing reforms, stating that true reforms must endure beyond the moment they are announced.
5 October 2026 · Joy Online →
At the opening of the 69th Legal Year, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie urged the Judiciary to strengthen the foundations of justice rather than merely introducing reforms, stating that true reforms must endure beyond the moment they are announced.
5 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has urged the Judiciary to focus on strengthening the foundations of justice rather than merely introducing reforms, saying the true test of every reform is whether it endures beyond the moment. Public confidence in the Judiciary, he said, cannot be secured by the Constitution and the law alone but must be earned through everyday experiences.
5 October 2026 · Joy Online →
The New Patriotic Party has argued that judges cannot enjoy the full range of personal freedoms available to ordinary citizens once they assume judicial office, saying the demands of the position require a higher degree of restraint in matters of public conduct. The party's position follows comments by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie that judicial officers should not lose their humanity because of the demands of their positions.
1 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghanaian artiste Shatta Wale has written to President Mahama calling for a balanced framework to address defamation and harassment on social media while protecting freedom of expression, proposing that Ghana's response be guided by clearly defined laws, due process and independent judicial oversight. His appeal follows President Mahama's call for a national stakeholder dialogue on regulating TikTok and other new media platforms.
28 September 2026 · Joy Online →
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 →
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 →
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 →
An opinion piece argues that the Chief Justice's visits to state-owned enterprises to assess their performance fall outside his constitutional remit, which limits him to heading the Judiciary and presiding over the Supreme Court, and constitute an unconstitutional blurring of separation of powers.
6 September 2026 · Joy Online →
CDD-Ghana's Director of Programmes says the Chief Justice's recent comparison of state institutions' performance under the current administration was ill-advised, and warns the Judiciary must be more sensitive in public engagement to protect public confidence in justice delivery.
5 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Chief Justice Baffoe Bonnie said his recent comments on state-owned enterprises' performance were made in good faith and not intended to undermine judicial independence, according to a press release from the Judicial Secretary.
5 September 2026 · The Chronicle →
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 →
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 →
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 →
NPP Deputy General Secretary Haruna Mohammed has disagreed with IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe's defence of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie's recent comments on state institutions, arguing that the Chief Justice's constitutional role is to administer justice and protect judicial independence, not to safeguard any government's agenda.
3 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Governance expert Professor Baffour Agyemang Duah has criticised the Chief Justice's official visits to state institutions, saying such public engagements could undermine judicial neutrality and confidence in the separation of powers. Prof Duah said he had not seen a sitting Chief Justice undertake official visits to Executive institutions in this manner in Ghana's republics.
3 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Gushegu MP Alhassan Tampuli has criticised Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie for visiting state institutions and commending their performance, calling it "scandalising" and arguing the judiciary head should avoid creating perceptions of political alignment. Tampuli expressed concern that such comments could compromise the Judiciary's impartiality when politicians' disputes come before the courts.
3 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The NPP has warned that the Chief Justice's alleged partisan conduct risks undermining public confidence in Ghana's Judiciary, citing the head of the Judiciary's recent praise of state institutions' performance and criticism of the previous eight years as evidence of political bias at a sensitive time for opposition-linked court cases.
3 September 2026 · Joy Online →
A Manhyia South MP and member of Parliament's Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee has described remarks by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie praising the performance of state institutions under the current administration as "extremely unfortunate," arguing that the Chief Justice breached judicial neutrality by making such comments in his official capacity.
3 September 2026 · Joy Online →
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 →
Legal scholar Prof Kwaku Asare has cautioned Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie against making public comments that could be interpreted as partisan political assessments, arguing that the Chief Justice's reference to "the past eight years" in remarks about state institutions carried political meaning and risked undermining judicial independence.
3 September 2026 · Joy Online →
MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has questioned Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie's visits to state-owned institutions including MIIF and SSNIT, describing the engagement as unprecedented and unusual for the Judiciary. The Chief Justice had praised the performance of these public institutions during his visits.
2 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has defended judges sitting during the legal vacation, saying the courts cannot completely shut down because "cases do not go on leave" and some judges must remain to hear urgent and emergency matters where delays could have serious consequences.
2 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The Institute of Economic Affairs has outlined 18 positions on Ghana's Constitutional review, proposing changes to reduce presidential powers, strengthen Parliament and the Judiciary, and improve accountability. The IEA supports several Prempeh Committee recommendations but rejects proposals to extend presidential and parliamentary terms to five years, allow presidential nomination of MMDCE candidates, and establish a state-funded Democracy Fund.
2 September 2026 · Joy Online →
President John Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to Ghana's judicial independence as a constitutional guarantee rather than an executive favour. His Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, conveyed this position at the opening of the 2nd Quadrennial Delegates' Conference of the Judicial Service Staff Association in Tamale, emphasizing that government will support the judiciary while respecting its autonomy.
27 August 2026 · The Chronicle →
The POS Foundation's executive director says Ghana's participation in the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review has produced tangible changes, including community-sentencing reform; however, significant commitments remain outstanding. He cited the Community Service Bill passed in July 2026 as a legislative outcome stemming from UPR recommendations to address prison overcrowding.
25 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The Interior Ministry says Motor Traffic and Transport Department officers will continue working on Ghana's roads despite the introduction of TraffiTech-GH, an automated traffic monitoring system using cameras to detect violations. The new technology will complement rather than replace MTTD personnel, who remain essential for law enforcement and public education on road safety.
25 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Vice Presidential candidate Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh has called for an evidence-based reassessment of Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia's administration in Ghana's Second Republic, arguing it should be judged on constitutional philosophy, policy choices, and development record rather than romanticised or solely by the military coup that ended it.
24 August 2026 · Joy Online →
An opinion piece argues that Ghana should establish Regional Tribunals despite past military-era tribunals committing human rights violations, saying proper constitutional safeguards can prevent such abuses. The author contends that historical concerns, while understandable, should not prevent Ghana from using an institution recognised by the Constitution if adequately regulated.
21 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Self-styled pastors in Ghana have moved from the margins to the center of political strategy, with aspiring politicians increasingly seeking their endorsements and spiritual validation. The relationship has evolved from campaign optics into a structural system where pastors offer spiritual cover and access to congregations in exchange for political influence and financial benefits.
13 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The Ghana Bar Association has objected to the Judiciary's decision to compel High Court judges to continue hearing part-heard criminal trials during the legal vacation period (August 1 to September 30), arguing that the practice departs from established arrangements and places undue pressure on lawyers who have made prior commitments.
12 August 2026 · The Chronicle →