NPP Questions Ghana Chief Justice Allegiance Over Mahama Alignment

• The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has questioned the neutrality of Ghana's Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, alleging his recent comments suggest alignment with President John Dramani Mahama's agenda.
• Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie praised state institutions like MIIF and SSNIT, remarking on Ghana's progress compared to the previous eight years, which the NPP interpreted as a vow to support the President.
• The NPP is concerned these statements create an impression of judicial support for the government's "Operation Recover All Loot" (ORAL) initiative, which targets NPP-affiliated individuals.
• The party asserts that a Chief Justice's allegiance is solely to the Constitution, not to any political figure or agenda, and cited the incarceration of Chairman Wontumi as evidence of judicial bias.
• The NPP plans to resist political persecution through the courts and will present a "full record" of the Chief Justice's conduct at a press conference, highlighting concerns about the judiciary's alignment with Jubilee House.

The NPP asserted that Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie's words and actions lend credence to a growing apprehension that the leadership of the judiciary is coordinating with Jubilee House, the seat of the presidency.

Ghana's New Patriotic Party (NPP) has publicly questioned the impartiality of Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, alleging that his recent remarks suggest an alignment with the political agenda of President John Dramani Mahama. The NPP's criticism, issued on September 3, 2026, stems from comments made by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie during a visit to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) on September 2, 2026.

During his visit, the Chief Justice commended the performance of MIIF and other state institutions, expressing surprise at their achievements. He specifically stated that the developments he had witnessed led him to ponder what Ghana had been accomplishing over the preceding eight years. Justice Baffoe-Bonnie's praise extended to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) after a separate visit, where he noted being impressed by its current operations, contrasting them with earlier plans to divest key assets like the Labadi Beach Hotel. The NPP interprets these statements as a commitment by the Chief Justice to ensure the success of the President's objectives, thereby raising significant Ghana judicial independence concerns.

The NPP views Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie's comments as particularly troubling given the government's ongoing "Operation Recover All Loot" (ORAL) initiative. This program has led to the prosecution of individuals with ties to the NPP, and the party contends that the Chief Justice's remarks could foster the perception that the judiciary is actively working to advance the executive's political goals. The NPP emphasized that a Chief Justice's fundamental allegiance is to the Constitution alone, not to any specific president, political party, or governmental agenda.

The party articulated that any deviation from this constitutional oath would transform a judge into an instrument of the very power they are appointed to scrutinize. This assertion underscores the NPP's belief that the Chief Justice's conduct risks undermining the judiciary's neutral role and could lead to widespread concerns about political bias within Ghana's legal system. The NPP alleges Ghana judicial political bias, arguing that such statements compromise the judiciary's perceived neutrality in politically sensitive cases.

Further bolstering its claims, the NPP cited specific instances it considers indicative of unequal treatment within the current judicial framework. These include the issuance of what the party termed "vacation warrants" and the subsequent incarceration of Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, who previously served as the NPP's Ashanti Regional Chairman. The party characterized the prevailing judicial system as operating with "two speeds": remarkable swiftness for government opponents and a more leisurely pace for its allies.

The NPP asserted that Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie's words and actions lend credence to a growing apprehension that the leadership of the judiciary is coordinating with Jubilee House, the seat of the presidency. The party declared its firm intention to resist any attempts to transform the courts into tools for political persecution. Looking ahead, the NPP has pledged to present a comprehensive record of the Chief Justice's conduct at an upcoming major press conference, signaling its commitment to addressing these perceived threats to judicial impartiality and independence.

Lawyers and compliance officers in Ghana should closely monitor judicial independence and impartiality, particularly in cases with political implications or those involving opposition figures, as public trust in the judiciary's neutrality is being actively challenged. This could impact litigation strategy and client advice regarding potential political influence on court outcomes.

Source: Original reporting via Carbonatix