General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has warned Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaba Torkonoo for turning the judiciary into a rubber stamp institution.
The practice he observed undermines Ghana’s democracy.
His remarks follow a letter written by the Chief Justice to the president for the appointment of five more justices to the apex court, which his outfit cited.
At a press conference held last Thursday, July 4, 2024, he stated that the pillars of Ghana’s democracy were under siege by the current administration’s conduct of showing blatant disregard for the rule of law and the sanctity of independent institutions.
Mr. Kwetey lamented that despite the 15 judges appointed to the Supreme Court, his outfit has sighted a letter from the Chief Justice, Mrs. Torkonoo, soliciting the appointment of 5 more judges to the apex court.
He described the trend as disturbing and a conspiracy being hatched with the Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaba Torkonoo.
He admonished President Nana Akufo Addo and Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaba Torkonoo to halt the appointment of Her Ladyship Justice Angelina Mensah Homiah, His Lordship Eric Kyei Baffour, His Lordship Justice Edward Amoako Asante, Her Ladyship Justice Cyra Pamela C.A. Koranteng, and Her Ladyship Justice Efia Asare Botwe, the judge presiding over the prosecution of Hon. Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
He revealed that the unsolicited request from the Chief Justice, dated May 30, 2024, was promptly received by the president on June 4, 2024, requesting the appointment of 5 more judges as nothing but an extension of the executive.
The NDC urgently demands the following actions:
1. Immediate halt to Supreme Court appointments
2. Adherence to constitutional processes
3. Transparency and accountability
4. Judiciary independence
5. Immediate reversal of the unconstitutional appointment request
6. Public and civil society engagement
7. Ensuring merit-based appointments
8. Protection of judicial officers
Mr. Kwetey stressed, “This isn’t just a political maneuver by an already failed president; it’s an assault on our democracy, a betrayal of public trust, and a direct threat to the integrity of our judicial system.”
He lamented the government’s penchant for creating a judiciary that is no longer a check on executive power, but a mere extension of it, stating, “This is not the Ghana our forefathers fought for; this is not the democracy we pledged to uphold.
“Our nation deserves better, and it is our duty to stand up and protect the very foundations of our democratic society,” he added.
In conclusion, Mr. Kwetey maintained that the country’s democracy stands at the precipice and faces a grave threat from those who swore to uphold it, therefore calling for what he termed an assault on Ghana’s democracy to be halted.
