Accra: Ghanaian legal scholar and law professor, Prof Kwaku Asare, also known as Kwaku Azar, has issued a cautionary statement to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie regarding his public comments, which could be interpreted as partisan political statements. Prof Azar's remarks come in response to the Chief Justice's expression of surprise at the performance of certain state institutions under the current administration compared to the preceding eight years.
According to Ghana Web, Prof Azar highlighted his concerns in a Facebook post titled 'The Burden of the Robe,' dated September 2, 2026. He pointed out that the phrase 'the past eight years' holds a partisan connotation within Ghana's political dialogue, potentially framing the Chief Justice's remarks as a comparative assessment of two political administrations. Prof Azar emphasized that such statements venture into territory that the head of the Judiciary should refrain from.
Prof Azar acknowledged that while judges remain citizens after assuming office, their judicial roles impose limitations on public speech. He stressed that the Chief Justice, in particular, must exercise caution, as their words carry the Judiciary's institutional weight. The reciprocal obligation, he argued, requires judges to maintain political restraint, mirroring the expectation that politicians respect judicial independence.
The Chief Justice's comments were made during a visit to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) on September 2, 2026. He commended MIIF and other public institutions for their performance under the current administration, questioning the state of affairs over the previous eight years. During the visit, he also shared his observations from an earlier engagement with the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), where he noted significant improvements.
The Chief Justice expressed his astonishment at the past consideration by SSNIT to sell its prized assets, including the Labadi Beach Hotel, noting the progress made since then. His remarks, however, have sparked a debate on the appropriateness of such assessments from a judicial figure, with Prof Azar urging restraint to protect the Judiciary's impartiality and independence.