Netizens blast Chief Justice over comments on previous government

Social media users, particularly on X and Facebook, have lambasted Chief Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie over remarks they described as unworthy of a person in his position.

During courtesy visits on September 2, 2026, the Chief Justice compared the current achievements of certain state institutions to those under the previous administration.

‘Some of us keep wondering what we were really doing in the past eight years’ – Chief Justice

He expressed shock that these same institutions, according to him, were unable to perform during the earlier regime.

“I must congratulate you. I mean, you have done marvellously well. Sometimes, when we hear about the things that you have done and the things that some organisations are doing now, we wonder. Some of us keep wondering what we really have been doing in the past eight years,” he said.

“We've just come back from SSNIT. We went to SSNIT this morning, and the kind of things that we heard and what we had heard even before we went there, if you compare that with the fact that, not too long ago, SSNIT was preparing to sell its prized assets like the Labadi Beach Hotel, you wonder how Ghana could have sunk so low,” he added.

Following these remarks, the Chief Justice has come under sharp criticism online, with many questioning the appropriateness of such statements from the head of the judiciary.

'Take it from me, nothing will happen if the police fire at you and break your legs' - Commander to students

According to some X users, the Chief Justice’s comments amount to an endorsement of the current government while serving as a rebuke of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration.

They further accused him of bootlicking the executive arm and behaving more like an NDC national chairman, thereby bringing the office of the Chief Justice into disrepute.

Others went further to question whether he had begun campaigning for the NDC, suggesting that his remarks blurred the line between judicial independence and partisan politics.

One widely circulated response asked whether the controversial removal of his predecessor, Gertrude Torkornoo, had been worthwhile if it ultimately led to this outcome.

Many expressed disbelief that such statements could come from the country’s top judge, arguing that they risk undermining public confidence in the judiciary.

One user wrote: "Your office is not a campaign platform. You are not an NDC spokesperson. You are the head of an independent judiciary that is supposed to stand above the political fray. When you start scoring the previous administration while touring state institutions under the current one, you erode the very confidence you claim to protect. Smh."

"The arm of government that is supposed to 'check and balance' the executive arm is rather bootlicking the executive arm. The CJ has tarnished the image of that office. In a serious country, he will resign and go home," another user wrote.

"I think this dude is an NDC man through and through," another X user claimed.

One other user questioned: "And they wanted Ken Ofori Atta to come and face 'justice'. Whoever advised him not to come should be paid quadruple. Any future govt should strip off his retirement benefits. Backstabber."

Prof Kwaku Azar takes on Chief Justice over ‘partisan past eight years’ comment

"Ghanaians did not appoint you to grade governments. They expect you to deliver justice without fear or favour, not to validate one side’s narrative. If state organisations are performing better now, say so without the political dig. If you must reflect on the past, do it without sounding like a party activist.

This kind of language from the Chief Justice damages the judiciary more than any criticism from outside ever could. Stay in your lane. A very sad day for Mother Ghana... a whole CJ....," one other user noted.

Watch the video and read more comments below.

If you don’t believe he actually said it then here you go

Video credit: 1957 News https://t.co/0rUxU2qa34 pic.twitter.com/JOYhaNXBeq

— Dapperman (@KwakuDapaa1) September 2, 2026

NPP communicator said this man has presidential ambition. And it's next after his retirement which is before NDC internal presidential election. It sounded like joke, but it looks not no more.

— Isaac Antwi (@IS_Antwi) September 3, 2026

Many Ghanaians are just not as honest. All the good news it hasn’t lasted a week in the media. If the reports were negative we will have heard days and days of discussions.

— Maame Esi (@MaameEsiGold) September 2, 2026

But did Ghana’s institutional & economic problems suddenly begin eight years ago?

It is obvious that SSNIT’s sustainability challenges is the only one you will mention and use as an example. These are problems that predate the last eight years. Actuarial warnings were being…

— Bra_phile🇬🇧🇬🇭 (@BraPhile) September 2, 2026

Your office is not a campaign platform. You are not an NDC spokesperson. You are the head of an independent judiciary that is supposed to stand above the political fray. When you start scoring the previous administration while touring state institutions under the current one, you…

— YAW BE (@YDompee) September 2, 2026

The arm of govt that is supposed to " check and balance" the executive arm is rather bootlicking the executive arm.

The CJ has tarnished the image of that office. In a serious country, he will resign and go home.

— Abdul-Rahman Yunus (@Inusahsuru) September 3, 2026

I think this dude is an NDC man though and through

— United Charis (@CharisAryee) September 2, 2026

Ghanaians did not appoint you to grade governments. They expect you to deliver justice without fear or favour, not to validate one side’s narrative. If state organisations are performing better now, say so without the political dig. If you must reflect on the past, do it without…

— YAW BE (@YDompee) September 2, 2026

It is very unfortunate a Chief Justice descends into the battle ground and joins the cheap politics . In what possible way can your independence and neutrality be upheld?? Secondly, as there core of the laws of Ghana, you know it is not about hearsay’s but hard fact evidence..…

— AllaSUPA_SUPAAAA!!! (@dOC_nastyY) September 3, 2026

This man's appointment was a financial loss to the state.

There were other capable candidates who could have been considered for the position of Chief Justice, yet the NDC chose someone who had barely about a year to serve before reaching the legal retirement age of 70...👇

— unbiased🔱 (@unbiased_daily) September 2, 2026

I said it that this Cheap Justice P. Baffoe-Bonnie is in the pockets of John Mahama and there the Judiciary is in Mahama’s pocket.

It’s sad and shameful to hear this comment from the CJ of Ghana.

How did the position of Chief Justice became so low?

Boffin Bonnie is a disgrace!

— CRITIC (@The_1CRITIC) September 2, 2026

Are you really the chief Justice of Ghana or another communicator of this failed government and party ndc. I'm so sad today. No wonder you were selective in the cases that should be handled during this judicial vacation. You are an ndc person.

— Bernard Otibo Arthur (@arthurbernard37) September 2, 2026

Ghana is 69 years old but a certain group of sycophants always give reference to 8yrs forgetting they have ruled this country the most… a whole chief justice speaking like a stupid party serial caller.

— KENNEDY AGYAPONG JNR🇬🇭 (@NKBempire) September 2, 2026