The Chief Justice, His Lordship Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has drawn criticism from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Germany Branch over public comments commending the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).

Michael Arthur (McArthur), Communication Officer for the NPP Germany Branch, expressed deep concern over the viral video showing the Chief Justice praising MIIF during an official visit on 2 September 2026.

The NPP argued that “the Chief Justice's remarks unnecessarily denigrated the performance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) under the previous Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration by drawing political comparisons”.

Preserving judicial neutrality

While acknowledging that praising high-performing state entities is acceptable, McArthur stressed that the Chief Justice's comments crossed the line into partisan political commentary, threatening public confidence in the judiciary.

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with commending a state institution for good performance in executing its mandate. What is particularly troubling, however, is when such commendation is wrapped in a political narrative that does not withstand basic factual scrutiny," McArthur stated.

McArthur questioned whether the head of the judiciary was endorsing a narrative favourable to the current administration, warning that such public declarations undermine the bedrock of democratic governance.

"The Chief Justice occupies one of the most important constitutional offices in the Republic. The holder of that office must not only be impartial but must also be seen by the public to be impartial," he noted, adding that the comments have already sparked intense debate given the constitutional requirement for judicial independence from executive politics.

Setting the record straight on MIIF

Pushing back on the narrative surrounding the Fund's success, the NPP Germany Branch emphasised that MIIF's structural foundation and profit growth were established under the Akufo-Addo administration.

"MIIF's impressive performance did not begin with the current government. If anything, its reported record profit came in 2024, before the change of government," McArthur claimed, questioning why historical credit for the institution was being rewritten.

The party urged the Chief Justice to exercise caution in his public utterances, reminding him that statements from the head of the judiciary carry significant national weight.

"The Chief Justice must remember that his words carry immense weight. When he speaks, the nation listens and interprets. His comments must never give the impression that the highest court in the land has taken sides in the political contest of ideas," he said, calling on the head of the bench to concentrate strictly on the administration of justice.