The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has rejected calls for Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to resign over remarks he made during visits to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).
The Conference described the demands for the Chief Justice’s resignation as disproportionate, although it acknowledged that some of his comments could raise concerns about the appearance of judicial impartiality.
In a statement issued on Sunday, September 6, the Catholic Bishops said there was nothing inherently wrong with Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie visiting public institutions, assessing their operations or commending improvements.
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However, they said concerns arose from the political interpretation that some of his comments appeared to have acquired, particularly his reference to the “past eight years.”
According to the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the phrase “past eight years” could reasonably be interpreted in Ghana’s political context as a comparison between the current administration’s performance and that of its predecessor.
“In our national context, such a phrase is readily heard as a comparison between the present administration and its predecessor,” the Conference said.
The Bishops explained that what may have begun as a straightforward assessment of institutional performance could therefore be perceived as a political or partisan judgment.
The Conference also noted concerns previously raised by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) that the Chief Justice’s remarks could create an impression of political endorsement and potentially affect public confidence in the impartiality of the Judiciary.
Despite those concerns, the Catholic Bishops said they had noted the Judicial Service’s clarification that the Chief Justice’s observations were made in good faith and were not intended to compromise judicial independence.
The Judicial Service also reaffirmed Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s commitment to the integrity of the Judiciary and the principle of equality before the law.
“We receive that clarification in good faith,” the Bishops said.
The Conference stressed, however, that the controversy should prompt a broader discussion about judicial ethics, public confidence and the appearance of impartiality.
The Catholic Bishops said the Chief Justice occupies a unique position and cannot be viewed in the same way as an ordinary public commentator.
They pointed out that Ghana’s courts may be called upon to determine disputes involving the government, political parties and public institutions.
“Judicial independence is not only a matter of actual impartiality; it also depends on the visible, unmistakable appearance of impartiality,” the statement said.
The Conference therefore encouraged the Chief Justice and other judicial officers to exercise particular caution in their public engagements to ensure that their comments do not create reasonable doubts about their neutrality.
Despite their reservations about the remarks, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference said the incident did not constitute evidence that Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie is partisan or that Ghana’s Judiciary has been compromised.
“Such conclusions would go well beyond the evidence available to us, and calls for his resignation on this basis alone strike us as disproportionate to the offence,” the Bishops said.
The Conference noted that the Chief Justice, like every citizen, is entitled to his personal convictions.
However, it stressed that the conduct of the head of Ghana’s Judiciary must be guided by the need to preserve public confidence in the courts and maintain a clear appearance of independence.
The Catholic Bishops also appealed to both the governing party and the opposition to exercise restraint in their responses to the controversy involving the Chief Justice.
They said the governing party should not interpret criticism of the Chief Justice as an attack on its record, while the opposition should not regard his remarks as proof that the Judiciary has been captured.
The Conference urged all public office holders to uphold the same standard of restraint and responsibility, regardless of which political party is in government.
It said protecting judicial independence and public trust in Ghana’s Judiciary requires responsible conduct from political leaders, judicial officers and other public officials.