Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged the Chief Justice to lead reforms in the Judiciary.
In his view, judgments by the judiciary was troubling.
Speaking at a meeting with National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters in the US, Mr. said “We do have problems with the judiciary and I think that it is necessary for some reforms to take place there. It is necessary for the Chief Justice or whoever is in charge to make some reforms.”
He recently took on the Supreme Court over its ruling in stating that Deputy Speakers have a right to vote and be counted to form a quorum.
He further asked judges to discharge their duties without fear or favor irrespective of who appointed them to the bench.
“We do have problems with the judiciary, I must say. I think that it is necessary for some internal reforms to take place there. It is necessary for the Chief Justice or whoever is responsible to make some reforms.
“Most of the governance institutions have been politicized. I give the example of the judiciary. It is only in Ghana that a Supreme Court will make a decision that a birth certificate is not proof of citizenship.”
He added that “There are many such funny judgments that have been given. I remember at one time, our colleague Professor Raymond Atuguba said that from a research he had done, judges turn to give their judgments in favour of the political party or leader that appointed them.
“He was subjected to such a whirlwind of indignation by the judiciary but if you bring it down to what is happening today, and you look at it and see who appointed who, you will find that there was some truth in the research.”
“The thing is, our constitution gives security of tenure to judges. Once you have been appointed you cannot be removed. That is why we give security of tenure so that you will have the courage no matter who appointed you to give judgment according to your conscience. That is what our judges should do. They must rise up to the occasion,” he posited.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
