Prof Kwaku Azar cautions Chief Justice over 'partisan past eight years' comment
Ghanaian legal scholar Prof Kwaku Asare, known as Kwaku Azar, has advised Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie against making public statements that could be seen as politically partisan. This caution follows remarks made by the Chief Justice expressing surprise at the performance of some state institutions under the current administration compared to the previous eight years. In a Facebook post titled “The Burden of the Robe,” Prof Azar acknowledged the Chief Justice's sentiment but raised concerns about the language used. He stated that the phrase “the past eight years” carries a distinct partisan meaning in Ghana's political discourse, potentially leading to interpretations of an assessment of one political administration against another. Prof Azar emphasized that the head of the Judiciary should avoid such territory, arguing that while judges remain citizens, their judicial role, especially that of the Chief Justice, constrains their public speech due to the institutional weight their comments carry. He stressed the reciprocal obligation for judges to exercise restraint and stay out of the partisan political arena, just as politicians are expected to respect judicial independence. Prof Azar highlighted the importance of protecting the judiciary as an institution, ensuring that no litigant questions the head of the Judiciary's view on any administration. The Chief Justice's original remarks were made during a visit to the Minerals Income Investment Fund MIIF on September 2, 20
