Chief Justice Paul Baffoe‑Bonnie said judges must not abandon their humanity because of their positions, after criticism over his recent remarks on state‑owned enterprises (SOEs) under the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) governments.
During visits to several SOEs, the Chief Justice compared their performance under the two administrations, a comment that prompted the NPP to call for his retraction of what it described as partisan remarks or for him to resign and formally join the NDC.
Speaking at the opening of the 45th Annual Conference of the Judges and Magistrates Association of Ghana, the Chief Justice explained that his attendance at public events to honour close friends and relatives had attracted criticism from those who believed his role required him to stay within the confines of his office.
He admitted that in recent times he had run into trouble in the office precisely because he allowed his humanity to overtake his official restraint. He added that, as Chair of the Council for Legal Education and Training, he had undertaken official visits and engagements that might have been safer if he had remained in the office.
“These experiences, which have sometimes drawn a cacophony of noises, some of which border on pure mischief, have rather reminded me and reinforced my thinking that we must never abandon our humanity simply because we have assumed judicial office,” he said.
He acknowledged that judicial officers must maintain professional restraint but suggested that doing so should not require them to completely withdraw from the human relationships and responsibilities that exist outside the courtroom.
