Private legal practitioner and law lecturer at Wisconsin International University College, Lawyer Gideon Nii Tettey Tetteh, has dismissed calls for the resignation of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie following his recent remarks praising the performance of some state institutions under the Mahama administration.
The Chief Justice, during a visit to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, expressed admiration for developments he had witnessed at the institution and questioned what Ghana had been doing over the previous eight years.
His comments have sparked political debate, with some members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) calling for his resignation, arguing that his remarks were politically coloured and inconsistent with the expected neutrality of the judiciary.
However, Lawyer Gideon Nii Tettey Tetteh disagrees with that position, describing the calls for resignation as unnecessary.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s morning show in Accra on Friday, September 4, 2026, he argued that the Chief Justice, as a Ghanaian citizen, has the right to express his views, particularly when the comments are not directed at or intended to undermine any particular political party or government.
According to him, the Chief Justice’s comments should instead be understood as an expression of surprise and encouragement after witnessing developments at a state institution.
«“I don’t see what political comment this may come from. He has seen what is happening and perhaps he did not expect Ghana to get this far. He is simply expressing his admiration and the hope that things can get better.”»
Lawyer Tettey Tetteh maintained that the Chief Justice did not directly attack or condemn any government in his remarks and, therefore, there was no constitutional or professional basis for demanding his resignation.
He said even if the comments were interpreted as criticism of the previous administration, they could still be viewed within the broader context of encouraging progress and expressing concerns shared by many Ghanaians.
He further argued that judicial independence does not mean a Chief Justice is prohibited from expressing an opinion outside the courtroom.
Explaining the principle of judicial independence, he said it primarily means that the judiciary must be free from interference by the Executive and Legislature in the performance of its constitutional functions.
«“Judicial independence means that you do not allow the Executive or the Legislature to interfere in your work.”»
He stressed that the Chief Justice’s comments, in his view, did not amount to political interference or a breach of judicial independence.
According to him, the Chief Justice was simply sharing his observations after a working visit to MIIF and expressing his surprise at the progress he had witnessed.
Lawyer Tettey Tetteh therefore urged critics of the Chief Justice to focus on the substance of his remarks rather than interpreting them as partisan political commentary.
He maintained that calling for the resignation of the Chief Justice over the comments was “highly unnecessary,” insisting that the remarks could instead serve as encouragement for state institutions to continue improving.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah — Ahotoronline, Accra