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Chief Justice’s public visits not improper, but ‘past 8 years’ remark could be political – Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference
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The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has defended Chief Justice Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, stating that there was nothing wrong with him visiting public institutions and commending improvements in their operations.
The Conference, however, expressed concern over the political interpretation of some of his recent remarks during visits to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).
In a statement issued on Sunday, September 6, the bishops explained that the visits themselves were not inappropriate, noting that public institutions belonged to the people of Ghana.
“There is nothing improper, in itself, in the Chief Justice visiting public institutions, acquainting himself with their operations, or commending genuine improvement,” the statement noted.
However, the Conference indicated that the Chief Justice’s reference to the “past eight years” could reasonably be interpreted as a comparison between the current administration and its predecessor.
According to the bishops, the remark may have created an impression of a partisan judgment, even if that was not the Chief Justice’s intention.
The Conference noted that concerns had already been raised by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, which warned that such remarks could create an impression of political endorsement and weaken public confidence in judicial impartiality.
It acknowledged a clarification by the Judicial Service, which explained that the Chief Justice’s comments were made in good faith and were not intended to compromise judicial independence.
The bishops stated that they accepted the clarification in good faith but maintained that judicial independence depended not only on actual impartiality but also on the public perception of impartiality.
They stressed that the Chief Justice must remain, and be seen to remain, above partisan politics because the courts could be called upon to adjudicate cases involving governments, political parties and public institutions.
However, the Conference clarified that its concerns should not be interpreted as an accusation that the Chief Justice was partisan or that the Judiciary had been compromised.
It described calls for his resignation based solely on the remarks as disproportionate.
The bishops suggested that the Chief Justice could have commended the achievements of SSNIT and MIIF without comparing the performance of one administration with another.
They further appealed to the governing party and the opposition not to exploit the matter for partisan advantage.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, has detailed the steps he took to alert state institutions about a land dispute he feared could turn violent.
This comes after the recent violence linked to the Gomoa land dispute a few days ago.
Speaking on Joy News on September 3, 2026, in Accra, A Plus rejected suggestions that the government failed to act on his warning, insisting that the Ministry of Interior took the necessary steps after receiving his letter.
According to him, shortly after becoming the Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, he wrote to the Lands Commission to seek clarity on the boundaries between Gomoa Central and Effutu.
He explained that his decision was aimed at preventing possible confrontations over administrative and traditional boundaries.
The Lands Commission, he noted, later provided him with a comprehensive report outlining the boundaries of the Gomoa and Effutu lands.
A Plus further disclosed that he wrote to the Ministry of Local Government to seek clarification on where the Gomoa Central District begins and ends.
After receiving responses from the two institutions, he wrote to the Ministry of Interior, raising concerns about an area he described as being deep within Gomoa Central but where votes cast during elections were counted as part of another constituency.
He questioned why an area that, according to the reports he received, falls within Gomoa Central was being linked to Effutu for electoral purposes.
The Gomoa Central MP also raised concerns about the location and naming of a police headquarters in the area.
According to him, the Ghana Police Service established a police station in the disputed area and named it the Effutu North District Police Headquarters.
He argued that although the police station was important for maintaining security, its name could create the impression that the disputed land belonged to Effutu.
“The Lands Commission has also given us a report that indicates that this place is not Effutu. So how can you come and put Effutu North Police Station inside Gomoa Central?” he questioned.
A Plus maintained that the police station should be renamed the Gomoa Akronkwanta Police Station to avoid further tension over the dispute.
He stressed that he followed due process by engaging the relevant state institutions and providing them with all the information he had gathered.
According to him, the Ministry of Interior also conducted its own investigations and subsequently wrote to the Ghana Police Service regarding the matter.
The police later invited chiefs connected to the dispute for discussions, he explained, but expressed concern that nearly a year later, there had been no known outcome.
“We have not heard anything,” he stated.
A Plus maintained that the relevant institutions acted after his warning but indicated that the matter remained unresolved following the police engagement with the chiefs.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Over 650 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) graduates in the Suhum Municipality have received support ahead of their transition to Senior High School (SHS).
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Suhum, Lydia Sarah Ohenewaa led the initiative on Friday, September 4, at the Suhum Main Station, where beneficiaries were given trunks, mattresses and buckets to aid their preparation for boarding school.
Outstanding BECE candidates were also rewarded with hampers and cash prizes.
Addressing students, parents and community members, the MCE urged the graduates to stay focused on their education and work hard to achieve their goals.
She appealed to individuals, corporate bodies and philanthropic organisations to support students from less privileged backgrounds who face challenges continuing their education.
The intervention was undertaken in partnership with the SOL Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable and less privileged members of society.
The event brought together students, parents, education stakeholders and community members to celebrate academic excellence and support learners in need.
The gesture is expected to ease the financial burden on parents and motivate the beneficiaries to strive for academic excellence.
The MCE and the SOL Foundation reaffirmed their commitment to initiatives that promote education and support disadvantaged groups.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
