The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has demanded the immediate resignation of the Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie over a video it claims shows him making partisan political comments in support of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
In a statement issued on Thursday, September 3, 2026, the NPP accused the Chief Justice of abandoning the neutrality expected of the head of Ghana’s Judiciary and questioned his ability to preside impartially over cases involving the government and its political opponents.
The party said it watched with “profound shock and disgust” a video circulating publicly in which the Chief Justice allegedly compared the performance of the current NDC government and its appointed chief executive officers favourably with that of the previous NPP administration.
“This is not the language of a Chief Justice. It is the language of a party propagandist, of a kind exclusively reserved for NDC communicators and serial callers, and it has no place whatsoever in the mouth of the head of Ghana’s Judiciary,” the NPP said.
The party argued that such comments were incompatible with the constitutional independence of the Judiciary, citing Articles 125 and 127 of the 1992 Constitution, which establish judicial independence and protect the Judiciary from external control or direction.
It also referred to the judicial oath, which requires the Chief Justice to administer justice without fear, favour, affection or ill will.
According to the NPP, the video was not an isolated incident but part of what it described as a broader pattern of conduct by the Chief Justice.
The party alleged that he had increasingly appeared at events involving political appointees of the NDC administration, raising concerns about the perception of judicial neutrality, particularly in cases involving the Executive.
The NPP claimed the Chief Justice had presented himself “not as the impartial head of an independent Judiciary but as a leading member of the National Democratic Congress in judicial robes”.
“If political commentary is his true vocation, he should resign forthwith and formally take up membership of the NDC, where such contributions are handsomely rewarded,” the party said.
The party also questioned remarks attributed to the Chief Justice in which he allegedly vowed that “everything must be done to ensure that the agenda of the President succeeds”.
It said the statement was particularly troubling because President John Dramani Mahama’s agenda includes the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative, under which persons associated with the NPP have appeared before the courts.
“When the head of the Judiciary pledges his exertions to the success of the Executive’s agenda, what conclusion is an accused person standing in the dock, or indeed any citizen, to draw?” the NPP asked.
The party insisted that the Chief Justice’s loyalty must be to the Constitution and not to the President, a political party or the agenda of any government.
“The day he does otherwise, he ceases to be a judge and becomes an instrument of the very power he was appointed to check,” it stated.
The NPP further accused the Judiciary of showing what it called “extraordinary alacrity” in handling some cases involving its members, citing the incarceration of Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
It alleged that cases involving opponents of the government were being handled with unusual speed while cases involving government allies moved more slowly.
The allegations have not been independently established, and neither the Chief Justice nor the Judicial Service had responded to the claims at the time of publication.
The party also raised concerns about the condition of judicial infrastructure across the country.
It alleged that several courts and judicial offices were in poor condition, with some courtrooms and registries facing significant infrastructural challenges.
The NPP accused the Chief Justice of failing to sufficiently draw attention to the situation and advocate for the refurbishment of the affected facilities, while allegedly becoming increasingly involved in activities involving state agencies under the Executive.
“With respect, My Lord, the leaking roofs are in your courts, not in the ministries,” the party said.
The NPP is demanding that the Chief Justice immediately and unreservedly retract what it described as his partisan commentary and pledge of support for the President’s agenda.
It said failure to do so should result in his resignation and formal entry into the NDC.
The party has also called on President Mahama to fill the vacant Council of State position and publicly disavow any arrangement concerning the Chief Justice’s post-retirement future.
The NPP said it would subsequently hold a major press conference to present what it described as the “full record” of the Chief Justice’s conduct.
It maintained that the Judiciary belongs to the people of Ghana and must remain independent of political control.
The statement was signed by NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong.
The Chief Justice and the Judicial Service are yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
