Inusah Fuseini, a former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, has stated that judges must be allowed to retain their humanity but should exercise restraint and stay within the law to protect public confidence in the judiciary.
His comments follow remarks by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, who said judges should not abandon their humanity because of their positions.
According to the Chief Justice, 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.
“I have in recent times run into some trouble in this office precisely because I allowed my humanity to overtake my official restraint,” he said.
But speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Mr Fuseini said the Chief Justice was not suggesting that judges should behave like ordinary members of the public simply because they are human.
“So the Chief Justice is simply reminding you that you are a human being. You are a human being at your core,” he said.
The former Tamale Central MP said judges could maintain personal relationships and participate in social life while still recognising the responsibilities that come with judicial office.
“You should not abandon your humanity because you are human. But you must work within the law to ensure that you win the respect, understanding, and confidence of the people of this country in the dispensation of justice,” he said.
Inusah Fuseini acknowledged that judges have traditionally been expected to keep away from public activities and maintain a degree of distance from the wider public.
“It has always been the norm that judges refrain from engaging in public activities,” he said.
However, he said the Chief Justice’s comments should be understood as a reminder that judicial restraint should not require judges to completely disconnect themselves from their humanity.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
