Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has dismissed allegations that the judiciary arm of government is under attack.
According to Asiedu Nketia, the judiciary needs to be reformed to undertake its constitutional duties.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, August 26, Asiedu Nketia stated, “Judiciary is not under attack. There is a reform of state institutions,” he explained. “So if there is a problem with the judiciary, the judiciary has to be reformed to undertake its constitutional duties.”
He added that there is a need for institutional reform as a means of strengthening democracy, noting that all arms of government must function effectively.
The NDC chairman further clarified that the NDC government is not seeking to remove suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office.
Asiedu Nketia added, “The executive has done nothing about the removal of the Chief Justice.
If anything at all, the executive is undertaking their responsibilities as far as upholding the constitution is concerned. So, the executive, to my mind, has not done anything by itself to try and remove the Chief Justice.”
However, the Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has labelled the petitions to remove the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, from office as politically motivated efforts.
According to him, the judiciary must not sit silently and watch as the ruling government attempts to do as it pleases.
The Minority Leader expressed concerns about the judiciary’s impartiality being compromised, warning of attempts by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to politicise the judicial system.
In addition, President John Dramani Mahama, some months ago, told the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) that his government harbours no hostility toward the judiciary or the legal profession.
John Mahama called on the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to actively scrutinise and critique government policies.
John Mahama, speaking during a visit by the leader of the Ghana Bar Association, Efua Ghartey, stated, “Government is open to working with you, particularly on our side of the political divide. There’s this perception that we have a problem with the legal fraternity and things like that”.
“We’re not people who have any such animosity towards the judiciary and the legal fraternity. So our doors are open”, Mahama added.
He further added, “You have been a strong advocate for the rule of law, respect for human rights, the constitution, and freedoms. I believe that the role you play is important for our society to progress.”
“So, as I have told civil societies, they must have the freedom to point out when things are not going in the way they should. Just like we say in our local parlance, ‘if a person is charting a path, he may not know that it is crooked.’”
“It is only onlookers who can be able to point it out to him. So, we will appreciate whatever feedback you give, and I believe that is how government should be,” Mahama stated.
In a related judiciary news, Sheikh Abubakar Ahmed Kamaldeen, the National Imam of Shia, has slammed both the New patriotic Party (NPP) and now the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) for their constant manipulation of the judiciary.
He noted that Ghana’s judiciary is in a bad shape because of the manipulation of the political parties.
Speaking at the Islamic National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving in Accra, Sheikh Kamaldeen cried out, “Our judiciary is in a bad shape because of the manipulation of the political parties”.
He continued, “Barely one year ago, the NDC was advocating for a cap in the appointment of Justices for the Supreme Court, only for our President to appoint seven of them just recently.”
”As a result, many people don’t have confidence in the Judiciary because of the manipulation of the political parties.
Change the attitude of first, the executive to leave the judiciary alone. They must be independent, and they must be allowed to do their work without interference from the executives and the political parties”, he added.