Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Communications Director for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s 2024 campaign, believes Ghanaians should be worried about what he describes as a “brotherly” relationship between the Chief Justice and the Government, arguing that it puts the Judiciary in a bad light.
He made the comments on Wontumi TV’s morning show, hosted by Oheneba Asiedu, while sharing his thoughts on remarks by Chief Justice His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie about advancing President Mahama’s agenda. Aboagye said any Ghanaian who is not worried about the situation is “very brave.”
Aboagye argued that the Chief Justice’s comments prove he is “in bed” with the Government. As a case study, he pointed to the sentencing of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) former Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi.
He claimed the 20-year conviction shows, without doubt, that the Chief Justice was the “chief architect” behind the sentence, suggesting it stemmed from Wontumi’s frequent clashes with senior members of the Government.
According to Aboagye, the courts are no longer safe for the ordinary Ghanaian. “If you are Ghanaian and are not worried about these recent incidents, then you are very brave, because we do not know what other Chief Justices who will come after this one are learning from him,” he said.
Aboagye challenged anyone with a pending case in court to ask themselves whether their case aligns with President Mahama’s interests arguing that if it does, they are likely to win, and if not, the Chief Justice will ensure they lose.
“If you are going to court, what I am asking you is this: does the old man (Mahama) appreciate the case you are bringing? Will it worry him? Because the Chief Justice says he will do whatever he can to advance the old man’s agenda,” he said.
Aboagye called on Ghanaians to remind the Chief Justice of the importance of an independent Judiciary, noting its role in resolving disputes between opposing parties especially in a highly polarized political environment like Ghana’s.
“The Judiciary is there to resolve matters between opposing sides, but if the Judiciary itself has taken a side, then what will the other side do? We are in very frightening times in our country,” he said.