The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Anatu Anne Seidu Bogobiri, Esq., has defended Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie after he urged Ghanaians to support President John Dramani Mahama’s development programme.
Bogobiri described criticism of the Chief Justice’s comments as “mischievous, hypocritical and unpatriotic”, arguing that the success or failure of the President’s administration affects the whole country rather than one political party.
Speaking at a nation-building forum, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie said: “President Mahama’s agenda is one that will benefit Ghana. We should do everything to ensure that he succeeds.”
The remarks have prompted public debate, with some critics suggesting that the country’s highest-ranking judge had gone beyond the limits expected of his office.
However, in a strongly worded statement, Bogobiri said there was “absolutely nothing wrong” with the Chief Justice’s intervention. She maintained that supporting a president’s efforts to improve the country should not be viewed as an endorsement of a political party.
“John Dramani Mahama is not just National Democratic Congress President; he is President of the Republic of Ghana. His failure is Ghana’s failure. His success is Ghana’s success,” she said.
Bogobiri added that the success of President Mahama’s agenda “to reset Ghana, fight corruption, create jobs and stabilize the economy” would benefit “every Ghanaian, including NPP supporters.”
She also argued that the Chief Justice had acted within his constitutional rights because his comments did not amount to backing a party or calling for votes.
“The Chief Justice did not say ‘NDC must win 2028.’ He did not say ‘vote for NDC.’ He spoke about Ghana,” Bogobiri said.
She characterised the appeal for support as an expression of national responsibility rather than partisan political activity.
“Calling for collective support for a national agenda is not partisan politics; it is patriotism.”
Concerns have also been raised about whether the Judicial Oath requires the Chief Justice to avoid public statements on political or national matters. Bogobiri rejected that interpretation, saying the oath concerns fairness when judges are deciding cases.
“The Judicial Oath requires judges to be impartial in cases before them, not to be silent robots on national development,” she said.
According to Bogobiri, the setting in which the comments were made was also significant. She said Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie spoke at a nation-building forum and “not from the bench.”
Bogobiri further accused opponents of applying different standards to President Mahama’s administration, citing what she described as similar calls made by previous Chief Justices in support of government programmes.
“When past Chief Justices made similar calls for support for government programmes, those now shouting today were silent. We cannot have one standard for one government and another for President Mahama’s government,” she said.
She ended her statement by calling for wider national backing for the President’s reset programme.
“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,” she said.
