President Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed concern over recent “systematic, caustic and unjustified” attacks on the Judiciary and the Electoral Commission by former President John Dramani Mahama, urging Ghanaians to ignore such attacks.
“Just as Government continues to implement policies to advance the rule of law, and, thereby, reinforce the confidence of the people, and shore up our nation’s reputation as a country governed by the rule of law, there are some who have made it their political agenda to disparage systematically the image of the Judiciary for selfish, parochial, partisan reasons.
“These are the plaintiffs, who go to Court, indeed, to the highest court of the land, provide not a single shred of evidence to back their claims, and, yet, insist that their claims be upheld, despite the elementary violation of the ancient, common-law rules for the discharge of the burden of proof that such a result would entail,” the President said.
He added: “It is no wonder that their claims were unanimously dismissed 7-0 by the apex court. The result of this case is in stark contrast to the result of a similar one in 2013, when the unsuccessful plaintiffs managed to persuade four (4) out of a nine (9) member court to find for them, and, yet, the earlier plaintiffs chose not to wage a political war against the court.”
The President said this at the Annual Conference of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), held in Ho, yesterday.
Attacks
Former President Mahama, while addressing Association of NDC lawyers on August 28, launched a scathing attack on the Judiciary, claiming that its image had “so badly … deteriorated that many of our citizenry openly make mockery of our justice system and of our justices.” He then called for a ‘repair’ of the Judiciary.
Earlier, he had launched similar attacks on the Electoral Commission, and led the National Democratic Congress to boycott the EC’s Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC).
Rule of law
But the President told the lawyers at the GBA Conference that Ghana is governed in accordance with the rule of law, and not on the basis of political considerations.
“It is important that all of us, especially us lawyers, who cherish the democracy we are building, say no to such persons, and guard jealously our democratic way of life, which we have done so much to bring into being. Independent judges, administering the law, protecting the human rights of citizens, and ensuring public accountability, are strong pillars of our democracy,” the President stated.
President Akufo-Addo noted that the EC has also become, predictably, the object of anti-democratic attacks, just as the Judiciary.
“Mercifully for all of us, these attacks have not shaken the confidence of the people in these institutions. Genuine democrats should devote their energies to finding ways and means of strengthening the democratic institutions of our Republic, instead of expending profitless time in undermining them,” he stressed.
Strengthening judiciary
The President recounted policy measures introduced to help bridge the technology-gap in the administration of justice in the country.
“We have launched the e-justice system, which is designed to leverage technology in the delivery of justice, and we are also addressing the challenge posed by the inadequate numbers of courts in various parts of the country, resulting in citizens travelling long distances to gain access to courts, and, thereby, weakening the rule of law,” he said.
“Through the Administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund, Government is constructing one hundred (100) new courts and bungalows for Judges in all sixteen (16) Regions of the country. Sixty percent (60%) of these courts and bungalows have been completed, and will be commissioned before the start of the legal year in October. The remaining forty percent (40%) will be duly completed and commissioned by the end of the first quarter of 2023.
“Six new Regional High Courts are also being constructed in the newly created regions, i.e., Ahafo, Bono East, North East, Oti, Savannah and Western North. Three of the Courts, that is those in Ahafo, Bono East and Oti Regions, will be completed and ready for commissioning, again, before October. The other three, that is those in North East, Savannah and Western North, which are at eighty percent (80%) completion, will be ready for commissioning by the end of the first quarter of 2023,” he added.
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