Judges must sacrifice certain personal freedoms for judicial office – NPP

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says judges must be prepared to give up certain personal freedoms when they accept judicial office.

The position follows comments by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie that judges should not abandon their humanity because of their positions, despite the demands of judicial office and scrutiny of their public conduct.

The Chief Justice had said his attendance at public events organised to honour close friends and relatives had, on some occasions, attracted criticism from people who believed his position required him to remain within the confines of his office.

The NPP, however, disagrees with that position.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the party’s Deputy General Secretary, Haruna Mohammed, said although judges remained human beings, the responsibilities of judicial office required them to exercise restraint in their public conduct.

“You don’t lose your humanity if you don’t attend funerals,” he said.

Mr Haruna argued that taking up certain positions, including joining the military or the judiciary, comes with responsibilities that may require individuals to put aside some personal rights.

“There are people who have not been able to attend their father’s and their mother’s funerals because of the jobs that they accept,” he said.

He said the same principle should apply to judges, particularly given the need to preserve the independence and dignity of the judiciary.

“Once you accept to be a judge, then you must also accept the responsibility to do away with certain rights,” he said.

The NPP Deputy General Secretary stressed that judges were not being barred from attending funerals, weddings or other social events, but said judicial office imposed additional demands on their public conduct and discretion.

He said judges must also consider the code of conduct governing their profession when deciding what to say or do publicly.

“Nobody is barring him, but the point is that he’s occupying an office that requires him to be careful and be mindful,” Mr Haruna said.