DistantNews
Support us
🇬🇭 Ghana /Elections & Politics

Ghana’s Catholic bishops reject calls for Chief Justice’s resignation over political remarks

From Daily Graphic · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference said calls for Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to resign over remarks at public institutions were disproportionate.
  • The bishops acknowledged that references to the “past eight years” could create an appearance of political partisanship and raise concerns about judicial impartiality.
  • They accepted the Judicial Service’s explanation that the remarks were made in good faith, while stressing that public confidence depends on the visible appearance of impartiality.

Ghana’s Catholic bishops have rejected calls for Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to resign over political remarks made during visits to public institutions, but they said the episode exposed serious questions about judicial ethics and public trust.

In our national context, such a phrase is readily heard as a comparison between the present administration and its predecessor.

· Ghana Catholic Bishops’ ConferenceThe bishops explained why the Chief Justice’s reference to the “past eight years” could sound political.

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference said there was nothing improper about the Chief Justice visiting the Social Security and National Insurance Trust and the Minerals Income Investment Fund, examining their operations or praising improvements. The concern, it said, arose from the political meaning that some of his remarks appeared to acquire, particularly his reference to the “past eight years.”

“In our national context, such a phrase is readily heard as a comparison between the present administration and its predecessor,” the Conference said. It added that a straightforward assessment of institutional performance “thus took on, at least in appearance, the character of a partisan judgment.”

Thus took on, at least in appearance, the character of a partisan judgment.

· Ghana Catholic Bishops’ ConferenceThe statement described how an institutional assessment could be perceived as political.

The bishops noted that Ghana’s Centre for Democratic Development had also warned that the remarks could create an impression of political endorsement and weaken confidence in judicial impartiality. The Judicial Service, however, said the Chief Justice had spoken in good faith and had not intended to compromise judicial independence. It also reaffirmed his commitment to the integrity of the Judiciary and equality before the law.

We receive that clarification in good faith.

· Ghana Catholic Bishops’ ConferenceThe bishops responded to the Judicial Service’s explanation of the Chief Justice’s intentions.

“We receive that clarification in good faith,” the bishops said. They nevertheless stressed that the Chief Justice was not an ordinary public commentator because courts may be called upon to decide 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.

Judicial independence is not only a matter of actual impartiality; it also depends on the visible, unmistakable appearance of impartiality.

· Ghana Catholic Bishops’ ConferenceThe statement outlined its concern about public confidence in the judiciary.
About this summary

Originally published by Daily Graphic in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog