There Is Nothing Wrong With What Chief Justice Said – Anatu Anne Seidu Bogobiri Esq
A Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Anatu Anne Seidu Bogobiri Esq., has defended Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie over his recent comment on President John Dramani Mahama’s agenda.
The Chief Justice is quoted as saying: “Pres. Mahama’s agenda is one that will benefit Ghana. We should do everything to ensure that he succeeds.”
His comment has attracted criticism from some sections of the public who view it as partisan.
But in a statement, Ms. Bogobiri said there is absolutely nothing wrong with what the Chief Justice said, describing attempts to twist his call for nation building into partisan politics as “mischievous, hypocritical and unpatriotic.”
She argued that the President’s success is Ghana’s success, noting that John Dramani Mahama is not just an NDC President but President of the Republic of Ghana.
“If President John Dramani Mahama’s agenda to reset Ghana, fight corruption, create jobs and stabilize the economy succeeds, every Ghanaian benefits, including the New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters. What kind of citizen, let alone a Chief Justice, would want the President of Ghana to fail?” she quizzed.
Ms. Bogobiri further stated that the Chief Justice has freedom of speech and a right to speak on nation building, adding that he did not campaign for the NDC but spoke about Ghana.
“The Constitution guarantees every Ghanaian, including Justices, the right to hold opinions on matters of national interest. Calling for collective support for a national agenda is not partisan politics; it is patriotism,” she said.
She added that the Judicial Oath requires judges to be impartial in cases before them, not to be silent on national development, and noted that Chief Justices in other democracies comment on national progress.
“The Chief Justice was speaking at a nation building forum, not from the bench. He was encouraging citizens to support a development agenda that he believes will benefit Ghana. That is leadership,” she stated.
She also accused critics of hypocrisy, saying when past Chief Justices made similar calls for support for government programmes, those now condemning the current Chief Justice were silent.
“Let us be honest. President Mahama’s reset agenda is indeed for the benefit of Ghana. The Chief Justice as an eminent statesman has every right to call on all of us to support it to succeed. Ghana first,” she added.
