‎Arthur Kennedy asks Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to apologize for ‘political’ comments

By: Godbless Asaana

‎Political activist, physician and social commentator, Arthur Kobina Kennedy has called on Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to apologise for comments he made during recent visits to state-owned institutions, saying the remarks were beneath the dignity of his office.
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‎Kennedy said the Chief Justice should acknowledge concerns raised over his comments and pledge not to repeat what he described as inappropriate conduct.
‎“I hope you can find it in your heart to apologise and pledge to do no more,” Dr Kennedy said in a video commentary on the controversy.
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‎The Chief Justice came under criticism following visits to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) on Wednesday, September 2, where he commented on the performance and management of the institutions.
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‎At MIIF, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie praised the institution’s performance and expressed surprise at what he said had been achieved compared with the previous eight years.
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‎“I must congratulate you. I mean, you have done marvellously well,” he said.
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‎“Sometimes when we hear the things that you have done, the things that some organisations are doing now, we wonder; some of us keep wondering what really we have been doing in the past eight years,” Chief Justice added.
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‎He also questioned aspects of the management of public resources during his engagement with SSNIT, including information presented to him about the institution and its previous plans to dispose of some assets.
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‎The remarks have since sparked a debate over whether the head of the Judiciary should make comments that could be interpreted as political or partisan, with critics warning that such statements could affect public perceptions of judicial neutrality.
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‎Kennedy, however, said the issue should not be viewed through partisan lenses, criticising both NPP and NDC supporters for what he described as selective outrage.
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‎He argued that some NPP supporters who previously defended the conduct of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo but are now critical of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie were being hypocritical.
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‎“Having said all that, Mr Chief Justice, your place as Chief Justice is not to be touring state-owned enterprises and making the remarks that you made. Indeed, you sounded like an NDC official, unfortunately,” Dr Kennedy said.
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‎He stressed that the Chief Justice’s position carries a responsibility to protect the dignity and credibility of the Judiciary.
‎“What you did was beneath the dignity of your office, and it did not reflect well on you or the judiciary,” he said.
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‎Kennedy therefore urged Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to apologise for the remarks and give an undertaking not to engage in similar conduct in the future, warning that the public actions of the Chief Justice can have consequences beyond his personal reputation.
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‎He said such conduct could ultimately affect confidence in the Judiciary as an institution and perceptions of its independence and neutrality.