Judicial Service Defends Chief Justice’s Remarks on State-Owned Entities

The Judicial Service has defended recent remarks by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie concerning the performance of some state-owned institutions, saying the comments were made in good faith and were not intended to compromise the independence of the Judiciary.

The clarification comes after the Chief Justice’s observations during an outreach engagement with selected state institutions generated mixed reactions from the public.

During visits to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), the Chief Justice raised questions about the management of Ghana’s state institutions over the past eight years. He also pointed to what he described as improvements in the performance of some of the entities.

His comments, however, drew criticism from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), which accused the Chief Justice of making political remarks. The party subsequently called on him to withdraw the comments or resign from office.

In a statement issued on Friday, September 4, 2026, the Judicial Service rejected any suggestion that the remarks were intended to undermine the Judiciary’s independence.

“The observations were made in good faith, and were not intended to serve a purpose inimical to judicial independence,” the statement said.

The Judicial Service further reaffirmed the Chief Justice’s commitment to protecting the integrity and independence of the Judiciary while advancing justice and ensuring equality before the law.