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General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has warned the party will never be intimidated by partisan occupants of state institutions no matter the cost.
According to him, the party did not strive to put in place the building blocks of a sustainable democracy only to allow judicial tyranny to rear its ugly head.
The NDC, he said, it will continue to defend the cause of freedom and right of the country.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia issued these warnings at a press conference at the party’s headquarters on Monday 21st June 2021.
He addressed the media on a petition filed by the Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anim-Yeboah to have Dr. Dominic Ayine investigated by the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council.
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Dr. Ayine has been accused of making derogatory remarks against the Judiciary at a panel discussion on Presidential Election Petitions and their impact on Africa’s Democracy organized by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD).
The NDC, he said, stands with Dr. Ayine against an increasing campaign of judicial tyranny being waged by the Chief Justice against lawyers who identify with the NDC.
“Indeed, the latest persecution of Dr. Ayine is part of a grand agenda by the current Chief Justice to intimidate, cower and muzzle all dissenting voices, particularly those in the NDC, who dare to speak against some of the strange decisions that characterized the 2020 Presidential Election Petition.”
“Only few months ago, some lawyers with NDC leanings, specifically Lawyer Abraham Amaliba and David Annan, were hauled to the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council by the Chief Justice in similar fashion and harassed for expressing their views on the Constitution of the Supreme Court Panel that heard the 2020 Election Petition.”
“Also, not long ago, the Hon. Rockson-Nelson K. Etse Dafeamekpor, the NDC Member of Parliament for South Dayi, received a similar invitation to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council,” he said.
The NDC scribe argued that Dr. Ayine spoke at a public roundtable discussion and is therefore entitled to his views about the independence of the Judiciary in line with his freedom of expression guaranteed under the 1992 constitution.
He said, “He was courteous to the Court and kept his language temperate and decent. He stayed within the bounds of professionalism. He was neither scurrilous nor scandalous.”
“For him to be accused by the Chief Justice of disparaging Ghana’s Judiciary over these tempered and justified comments, is not only bizarre and unfortunate but speaks volumes about the Chief Justice.”
Mr. Asiedu Nketiah argued the action against the Bolgatanga East MP is unjustified but stressed it is a symptom of a larger plot.
According to him, it is no coincidence that virtually all the lawyers who have been reported to the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council by Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah are aligned to the NDC.
He questioned the Chief Justice’s personal interest in the punishment of NDC affiliated lawyers that he is so keen to initiate unwarranted actions against them.
He noted that the notion of the judicial arm of government being beyond reproach is a fantasy that cannot be sustained and added that respect ought to be earned.
“Respect cannot be rammed down the throat of anyone through acts of suppression and brazen acts of intimidation,” he said.
He warned that any attempt by Justice Anim-Yeboah to browbeat the NDC and its members and prevent them from expressing their views on the performance of the Judiciary will fail.
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Frontpageghana.com/Ghana
