Daniel Yaw Domelevo, the former Auditor‑General, urged Chief Justice Paul Baffoe‑Bonnie to stop commenting on political issues that might later surface as litigation before the courts. The call came after the Chief Justice made remarks during visits to state institutions that praised the current administration’s performance while critiquing the previous eight years.
Domelevo said the judiciary’s independence could be questioned if the Chief Justice publicly labels an institution as corrupt or inefficient, especially when disputes involving that institution could later be brought before the court. “If you already make it known that this institution is corrupt or inefficient or has so and so, one may think that you are already prejudiced,” he explained during an interview on The Big Issue on Saturday, September 5.
The former auditor warned that public officials in sensitive constitutional roles must be mindful of how their statements might be interpreted. “My wish is that if it is possible, the Chief Justice should stop commenting on some political issues, especially issues that can later on cover litigation coming back to the court,” Domelevo said.
He acknowledged that the Chief Justice’s intentions may have been positive, but urged greater caution when addressing politically charged topics. “Doing so would help protect both the actual and perceived independence and impartiality of the Judiciary,” Domelevo added.
While the Chief Justice has been working to strengthen collaboration between the judiciary and other state institutions, Domelevo cautioned that his recent public comments could raise doubts about the courts’ impartiality. The judiciary’s reputation for neutrality remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s constitutional framework.
Observers will watch how the Chief Justice responds to this admonition and whether the judiciary will adjust its public communications to safeguard its perceived neutrality.
