Former President John Mahama has explained the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) challenges with the Judiciary and urged the Chief Justice to institute reforms within the courts.
He noted that it was necessary for internal reforms within the Judicial Service and behooved on the Chief Justice to take the initiative.
“We do have problems and challenges with the Judiciary, I must say, I think it is necessary for some internal reforms to take place there and it is necessary for the Chief Justice or whoever is responsible to make some reforms,” former President Mahama stressed.
Speaking to members and supporters of the NDC in the United States where he has been visiting, he decried the situation where most of governance institutions had been politicised and gave an example where the Supreme Court declared birth certificate was not proof of citizenship and referenced research which alleged Judges in political cases rule based on political coloration.
“Most of the governance institutions have been politicised, for instance, I give the example of the Judiciary, and it is only in Ghana that the Supreme Court will make decision a birth certificate is not proof of citizenship and research by my former executive secretary and lawyer Professor Raymond Atuguba argued judges, in crucial political cases, rule based on their party lines.
“There are many such funny judgments that have been given, I remember our colleague Professor Raymond Atuguba stated from research he had conducted, judges turn to give their judgments in favour of the political party or leader that appointed them, he was subjected to such whirlwind of indignation by the Judiciary, but if you compare to what is happening and you look at it and realise who appointed who, you will find there is some truth in the research,” former President Mahama contended.
According to him, the 1992 Constitution gave security of tenure to judges and by appointment cannot be removed and have courage no matter who appointed them to give judgment according to their conscience and they must rise to the occasion. –starrfm.com.gh
