NPP Rejects Baffoe-Bonnie Vetting, Cites Pending Court Cases

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly condemned the vetting of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie for the position of Chief Justice, calling it a serious breach of constitutional order and a threat to judicial independence.

In a statement signed by General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party said it “will witness this travesty, strongly condemn it, and publicly denounce its outcome,” emphasizing that the Constitution is the sacred covenant of the Ghanaian people.

The NPP argued that the nomination by the Mahama administration is particularly problematic because the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo remains under legal challenge. There are currently seven active cases in the Supreme Court, High Court, and ECOWAS Court of Justice questioning the legality of her dismissal.

“It is a cardinal principle of constitutional governance that where the legitimacy of a foundational state action is directly challenged, political authorities must exercise restraint until the courts have ruled,” the party noted.

The NPP also raised conflict-of-interest concerns, citing Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s prior involvement in the case Assafuah v. Attorney-General, which related to the Chief Justice’s office. They argued this undermines public confidence in the judiciary and violates the principle of nemo judex in causa sua—that no one should judge a case in which they have a personal stake.

While acknowledging Baffoe-Bonnie’s experience on the bench, the party described his acceptance of the nomination as “a gross and detrimental failure of judicial leadership.” They warned the Mahama administration against using political power to bypass constitutional safeguards, stating that “political majorities are transient, but constitutional principles are eternal.”

The NPP concluded by reaffirming its commitment to defend Ghana’s constitutional democracy and urged citizens to uphold the rule of law.