The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has voiced firm opposition to the vetting of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Chief Justice, labeling the process a serious threat to Ghana’s constitutional framework and the autonomy of the judiciary.
In a statement issued by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the NPP declared, “The NPP will witness this travesty, strongly condemn it, and publicly denounce its outcome. The Constitution is the sacred covenant of the Ghanaian people, and we shall never relent in our duty to defend it.”
The party argued that the nomination put forward by President Mahama’s administration represents a “grave breach of constitutional order,” especially as the dismissal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo remains under judicial review.
The statement highlighted that seven significant legal challenges are currently active in the Supreme Court, the High Court, and the ECOWAS Court of Justice, all contesting the legality and procedural fairness of Justice Torkornoo’s removal.
“It is a cardinal principle of constitutional governance that where the legitimacy of a foundational state action is directly challenged before a competent court, the political branches must exercise restraint until the judiciary has discharged its constitutional mandate,” the statement emphasized.
The NPP further accused the government of undermining judicial due process, warning that moving forward with a new appointment amounts to “a pre-emptive assault on the judicial function.”
The party also flagged a potential conflict of interest involving the nominee, asserting that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie had previously adjudicated a case—Assafuah v. Attorney-General—which directly pertained to the role of the Chief Justice.
“This situation engages the timeless principle of nemo judex in causa sua—that no person shall be a judge in their own cause,” the NPP noted, arguing that his prior involvement and subsequent acceptance of the nomination erode public trust in the judiciary.
While recognizing Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s extensive tenure on the bench, the party characterized his decision to accept the nomination as “a gross and detrimental failure of judicial leadership.”
The NPP also warned the Mahama administration against leveraging political dominance to erode constitutional norms, stating, “Political majorities are transient, but constitutional principles are eternal.”
The statement concluded with a reaffirmation of the party’s dedication to safeguarding Ghana’s constitutional democracy and called on citizens to uphold the rule of law.
“The Constitution is the sacred covenant of the Ghanaian people, and we shall never relent in our duty to defend it,” the party reiterated.
Leave a Reply