JUDICIAL SERVICE CLARIFIES CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING CHIEF JUSTICE'S VISIT TO BLACK STARS CAMP IN CANADA
The Judicial Service has taken note of public commentary and media discussions following the circulation of photographs showing His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, during a visit to the camp of Ghana's senior national football team, the Black Stars, in Canada.
While public interest in matters concerning holders of high public office is understandable and forms an important aspect of democratic accountability, it is necessary to place the facts surrounding the matter in their proper context.
The Chief Justice is currently on official vacation. His trip to Canada was undertaken in his private capacity and entirely at his own expense.
During his stay, and as a patriotic Ghanaian and keen sports enthusiast, the Chief Justice took the opportunity to visit the camp of the Black Stars to offer words of encouragement and support as they participate in the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
The visit was motivated solely by a desire to support the national team and should be viewed in that light.
Photographs taken during the visit have, however, generated commentary and speculation that do not accurately reflect the circumstances under which they were taken.
The Judicial Service wishes to emphasise that judicial independence does not require judges to withdraw entirely from society or cease to participate in ordinary aspects of national life. Judges remain citizens of the Republic and members of the communities they serve. What the Constitution requires of judges is independence of mind, fidelity to the law, and impartiality in the discharge ·of their judicial functions.
These are the principles that guide the conduct of the Chief Justice and all judicial officers. In every democratic society, persons occupying different constitutional offices will inevitably encounter one another in both official and non-official settings. The mere fact of such encounters cannot, without more, reasonably be construed as evidence of partisanship, bias, or political affiliation.
The Chief Justice remains fully committed to the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, the independence of the Judiciary, and the fair and impartial administration of justice to all persons, irrespective of political persuasion, social status, or personal background.
The Judicial Service further notes that national institutions and symbols often serve to unite rather than divide us. The Black Stars continue to represent the hopes and aspirations of all Ghanaians. Supporting the national team should not be misconstrued as compromising the impartiality or independence of any constitutional office holder.
The Judicial Service therefore respectfully urges the public to view the matter in its proper context and to disregard unfounded suggestions that seek to attribute meanings and motives to what was, in essence, an ordinary and patriotic gesture of support for Ghana's national team.
The Judicial Service remains steadfast in its commitment to preserving public confidence in the Judiciary through the continued discharge of its constitutional mandate with independence, integrity, impartiality, and fidelity to the rule of law.
Issued By: The Communications Department of the Judicial Service of Ghana