The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly opposed the nomination of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as Chief Justice, describing the decision as a violation of Ghana’s constitutional order.
In a statement dated November 10, 2025, and signed by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the NPP argued that the nomination by the Mahama administration was premature since the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo remains the subject of active legal challenges before Ghana’s courts and the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
According to the party, proceeding with a fresh nomination while these cases are still pending “constitutes a pre-emptive assault on the judicial function” and undermines the principle of separation of powers.
The NPP also expressed concern about a potential conflict of interest, noting that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie previously presided over proceedings connected to the very case that enabled his current nomination.
Citing the legal principle nemo judex in causa sua — meaning no one should be a judge in their own cause — the party said the development “erodes public trust in the judiciary and compromises judicial independence.”
While acknowledging Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s years of service on the bench, the NPP described his acceptance of the nomination as “a failure of judicial leadership” and urged him to demonstrate restraint and uphold the highest standards of judicial integrity.
The statement further cautioned the Mahama administration against employing “political force” to influence judicial appointments, warning that such actions could endanger Ghana’s constitutional stability.
The party concluded by reaffirming its commitment to defending the 1992 Constitution, stating that it “will never relent in its duty to safeguard Ghana’s democracy and the rule of law.”
