Lawyer and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communication team member, Hamza Suhuyini, has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of hypocrisy in its criticism of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie over his recent comments on the performance of some state-owned enterprises.

According to him, the NPP had previously praised the Chief Justice for speaking out on national issues, particularly the fight against illegal mining, but has now questioned his neutrality because his latest remarks appear critical of the party’s record in government.

Retract political comments or resign - NPP to Chief Justice

Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Thursday, September 3, 2026, Suhuyini said the Chief Justice has the right to express his views on matters of national interest.

“This is not the first time the Chief Justice is speaking. Every Chief Justice has his style; you cannot take away that right from the Chief Justice,” he said.

His comments follow remarks by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie during a visit to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

The Chief Justice praised the performance of MIIF and other state institutions, saying some of the developments he had witnessed made him question what Ghana had been doing in the previous eight years.

“I must congratulate you. I mean, you have done marvellously well. See, because 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,” Justice Baffoe-Bonnie said.

He also questioned previous plans to sell some SSNIT assets, including Labadi Beach Hotel.

“If you compare that to the fact that not too long ago, SSNIT was preparing to sell its prized assets like Labadi Beach Hotel, you wonder how Ghana could have sunk so low,” he said.

But Mr Suhuyini said the NPP’s reaction was inconsistent with its earlier position on the Chief Justice.

“It was this same group of people, NPP, who not long ago were in town praising the Chief Justice, the same Chief Justice, on his open statements on the fight against galamsey,” he said.

He argued that NPP figures had previously cited the Chief Justice’s comments on illegal mining to criticise the government without questioning his neutrality.

“When he said that the situation had worsened, then you did not know that he had ethical requirements as a Chief Justice,” he said.

“What kind of hypocrisy is the NPP engaging in?” he asked.

“All of a sudden, because today that statement is against you, the Chief Justice has become partisan,” he added.

Suhuyini challenged the NPP to identify any law or ethical principle breached by the Chief Justice.

“What is wrong with what the Chief Justice is doing? Which law is the Chief Justice breaking? Which ethical underpinning can you point to that the Chief Justice is breaking?” he asked.

He further defended the Chief Justice’s engagements with state institutions, saying such interactions were intended to promote cooperation and help him understand their operations.

Suhuyini also argued that the Chief Justice’s assessment of the country’s past economic challenges was supported by developments such as Ghana’s loss of access to international capital markets and the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme.

“Is it not the fact that eight years ago this country was run down? If this country was not run down, why is it that we were locked out of the capital market?” he asked.

He added: “Is it not a fact that institutions like TOR were run at a loss? Is that the story today? So what has the Chief Justice said that is not true?”

NA/AM

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