Martin Amidu accuses Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie of being Mahama’s ‘surrogate’ to control judiciary

Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has launched a strong criticism of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, alleging that the head of Ghana’s judiciary is serving as a “surrogate” for President John Dramani Mahama in an attempt to influence the affairs of the judiciary.

Amidu’s comments add to the ongoing public debate over judicial independence and the relationship between the executive and the judiciary.

In his remarks, the former Attorney-General questioned the independence of the judiciary under the current administration and alleged that the Chief Justice is being used to advance the interests of the political executive.

He described Baffoe-Bonnie as a “surrogate” of President Mahama and alleged that the arrangement is intended to give the government influence over the judiciary.

The allegation is a serious one, particularly given the constitutional importance of judicial independence in Ghana’s democratic system.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie has served on Ghana’s Supreme Court for years and has appeared on numerous panels dealing with constitutional and politically sensitive cases. Court records, for example, show him as a member of Supreme Court panels in cases involving Martin Amidu himself, including proceedings dating back to 2013 and 2017.

The former Special Prosecutor’s latest comments therefore place the spotlight once again on the question of how Ghana’s judiciary should maintain its independence while dealing with politically sensitive cases and constitutional disputes.

Amidu’s allegation remains his stated position and does not, by itself, establish that the Chief Justice is acting on behalf of President Mahama. Any assessment of the claim would require evidence concerning specific actions or decisions attributed to the Chief Justice.

The controversy comes at a time when judicial independence and accountability remain prominent issues in Ghana’s public discourse, with politicians, lawyers and civil society actors continuing to debate the appropriate balance between the three arms of government.

For now, Amidu’s remarks have opened another contentious chapter in the national conversation over the independence of Ghana’s judiciary and the role of the Chief Justice.