The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has rejected calls for Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to resign over remarks he made during recent visits to public institutions, while cautioning him to be mindful of statements that could create doubts about the political neutrality of the Judiciary.
The controversy follows comments made by the Chief Justice during visits to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) on September 2, 2026.
The remarks, particularly a reference to the “past eight years”, have generated criticism because the phrase could be interpreted as a comparison between the performance of the current administration and that of its predecessor.
Bishops caution Chief Justice over political perception
In a statement signed by the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the Bishops said there was nothing wrong with the Chief Justice visiting public institutions, assessing their operations or commending improvements.
However, they said the political character that some of his remarks appeared to take could create concerns about the perception of judicial impartiality.
The Bishops stressed that judicial independence depends not only on actual impartiality but also on the public perception that the Judiciary remains above partisan politics.
They therefore urged the Chief Justice to exercise caution when commenting on the performance of public institutions, particularly where such comments could be interpreted as favouring one political administration over another.
Resignation calls described as disproportionate
Despite their concerns, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference said the circumstances did not justify calls for Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to resign.
The Conference maintained that there was insufficient evidence to conclude that the Chief Justice was politically partisan or that the Judiciary had been compromised.
It also acknowledged a clarification from the Judicial Service that the Chief Justice’s observations were made in good faith and were not intended to undermine judicial independence.
The Bishops said the better approach would have been for the Chief Justice to commend the achievements of SSNIT and MIIF on their own merits without comparing their performance with that of a previous government.
NPP had called for Chief Justice’s resignation
The controversy intensified after the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) called for Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s resignation on September 3.
The NPP argued that his comments during engagements at SSNIT and MIIF raised questions about his political neutrality and the independence of the Judiciary.
The Catholic Bishops, however, have rejected the resignation demand, saying it goes beyond what the available evidence supports.
Their position represents a middle ground: while they do not consider the remarks sufficient grounds for resignation, they believe the episode should serve as a reminder of the importance of restraint and visible impartiality in judicial leadership.
Bishops call for restraint from all political actors
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference has also urged political parties and other stakeholders to avoid turning the controversy into another partisan confrontation.
The Conference cautioned the governing party against treating criticism of the Chief Justice as an attack on its political record. At the same time, it urged the opposition not to interpret the remarks as proof that the Judiciary has been captured.
According to the Bishops, the issue should instead provide an opportunity for reflection on the standards expected of public office holders, particularly those whose positions require a high level of public confidence.
The Conference emphasised that the Chief Justice, as head of the Judiciary, occupies a position where even unintended political perceptions can have consequences for public trust in the courts.
Judicial impartiality remains central to the debate
The controversy has renewed discussion about the relationship between judicial independence, public commentary and political neutrality in Ghana.
While the Catholic Bishops have stopped short of accusing Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie of partisanship, they have made clear that the perception of neutrality is just as important as actual neutrality.
For the Judiciary, the challenge is therefore not only to remain independent but also to communicate and conduct itself in ways that leave little room for reasonable doubts about its impartiality.
The Bishops have consequently appealed to all sides to approach the matter with restraint and avoid using the controversy for partisan advantage.
