The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the Chief Justice of abandoning judicial impartiality and descending into partisan politics following comments attributed to him in a video circulating on social media.
The opposition party said it was deeply concerned by the video, in which the Chief Justice allegedly praised a parastatal under the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, suggesting that its performance was better than under the previous NPP administration.
In a strongly worded statement, the NPP accused the Chief Justice of conduct it considers inconsistent with the constitutional expectations of the head of Ghana’s Judiciary.
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The party said it had watched the video “with profound shock and disgust” and questioned whether the comments attributed to the Chief Justice were appropriate for the head of an independent Judiciary.
“Let it be stated plainly: this is not the language of a Chief Justice. It is the language of a party propagandist,” the NPP stated.
The NPP’s criticism of the Chief Justice centres largely on the principle of judicial independence and neutrality.
The party cited Articles 125 and 127 of the 1992 Constitution, which establish the Judiciary as an independent arm of government and set out constitutional protections relating to the administration of justice.
According to the NPP, the judicial oath requires the Chief Justice to administer justice to all persons without fear, favour, affection or ill will.
The party argued that partisan political commentary by the head of the Judiciary could undermine public confidence in the independence and neutrality of the courts.
The opposition party further alleged that the video was not an isolated incident.
According to the NPP, the Chief Justice has increasingly appeared at events involving political appointees of the current government.
The party argued that such appearances and comments could create an impression of closeness between the Judiciary and the Executive.
“A Chief Justice who travels and celebrates as a courtier of the Executive cannot thereafter sit as a neutral umpire in cases to which the Executive is a party,” the NPP stated.
The party went further to accuse the Chief Justice of presenting himself as politically aligned with the governing NDC.
It said that if political commentary was his preferred vocation, he should resign as Chief Justice and formally enter partisan politics.
The NPP also questioned comments attributed to the Chief Justice about ensuring that the agenda of President John Dramani Mahama succeeds.
The party asked what specific agenda the Chief Justice was referring to, pointing to the government’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative.
The NPP noted that individuals associated with the party have faced legal proceedings under the current administration, with some appearing before courts over matters connected to government investigations.
“The NPP jokes not with his declared vow that everything must be done to ensure that the agenda of the President succeeds. Which agenda, My Lord?” the statement said.
The party argued that the Chief Justice’s comments raise questions about how the Judiciary would be perceived when cases involving the Executive or politically exposed individuals come before the courts.
The NPP also raised concerns about what it described as selective justice in cases involving members and supporters of the opposition party.
It pointed to what it characterised as the speed with which warrants are issued in some politically sensitive cases, including the incarceration of NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The party suggested that the handling of such cases had contributed to concerns among its members about fairness and equal treatment before the law.
The allegations, however, represent the NPP’s position and have not been established as findings of a court.
Beyond the political concerns, the NPP criticised the Chief Justice over what it described as insufficient attention to challenges facing the Judiciary itself.
The party cited deteriorating court infrastructure and overcrowded court registries, arguing that these issues require urgent attention.
It questioned why the Chief Justice would allegedly focus on monitoring the performance of the Executive while challenges within the Judiciary remain unresolved.
The NPP stressed that the Judiciary must remain independent from partisan politics, political parties and governments.
“The Judiciary belongs neither to the President, nor to the NDC, nor to the Chief Justice; it belongs to the people of Ghana,” the NPP said.
The party maintained that Ghanaians are constitutionally entitled to a Judiciary that remains impartial and “blind to partisan politics.”