Anatu Bogobiri defends Chief Justice’s call for support for Mahama’s agenda
NHIA Deputy CEO Anatu Bogobiri says the Chief Justice’s remarks were about national development, not an endorsement of the NDC or its 2028 electoral bid.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in charge of finance and investment, Anatu Anne Seidu Bogobiri Esq., has defended Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie’s call for Ghanaians to support President John Dramani Mahama’s development agenda.
She described attempts to portray the Chief Justice’s remarks as partisan political commentary as “mischievous, hypocritical and unpatriotic.”
The Chief Justice recently said President Mahama’s agenda would benefit Ghana and urged citizens to do everything possible to ensure its success.
In a statement, Bogobiri argued that President Mahama’s success should be viewed as Ghana’s success because he serves as President of the entire country, rather than only the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to her, any progress made under the government’s agenda to reset the economy, fight corruption, create jobs and improve the country’s economic stability would benefit all Ghanaians, including supporters of opposition parties.
She questioned why anyone would expect the Chief Justice to wish for the failure of a government whose success could contribute to national development.
Bogobiri further argued that the Chief Justice’s comments did not amount to an endorsement of the NDC or a call for Ghanaians to vote for the party.
She maintained that the Chief Justice was exercising his right to express an opinion on matters of national interest and was speaking at a nation-building forum rather than from the judicial bench.
“The Chief Justice did not say ‘NDC must win 2028’. He did not say ‘vote for NDC’. He spoke about Ghana,” she stated.
She also contended that the judicial oath requiring judges to remain impartial in cases before them does not prevent them from expressing views on national development.
According to her, Chief Justices and other judicial leaders in democratic countries can contribute to national discourse outside the courtroom without compromising their judicial responsibilities.
Bogobiri accused critics of the Chief Justice of applying double standards, alleging that some of those currently condemning his remarks remained silent when similar calls for support for government programmes were made under previous administrations.
She therefore called for consistency in assessing public statements by holders of high public office, regardless of which political party is in power.
“Let us be honest. President Mahama’s reset agenda is indeed for the benefit of Ghana,” she said, adding that the Chief Justice, as an eminent statesman, had the right to encourage citizens to support initiatives he believed would advance the country’s development.
She concluded with an appeal for Ghanaians to put the national interest ahead of partisan considerations, saying: “Ghana first.”
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