Private legal practitioner lawyer Oliver Barker- Vormawor has challenged the courts to develop a thicker skin for criticism, no matter how harsh it is.
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision to cite Dr. Kpessa-Whyte for contempt after the latter reportedly referred to the court as stupid, the lawyer stated that the lecturer did not err in making such remarks.
He argued that “citizens of Ghana have the unbridled right to call any institution stupid. Including the President/Presidency; Parliament and the Judiciary”.
In his view, “No one is immune from democratic ridicule and criticisms, no matter how boisterous or vulgar. People call me stupid all the time on this app, and I am not dead. In fact I dont even block them”.
He added “I think Courts should develop tougher skins lest they may be accused of being filled with fragile ego’s who lack the fortitude required of judges in a democracy”.
Read the full opinion below
I hear that Professor Kpessa Whyte has been cited for contempt for saying that gradually the Supreme Court is being turned into a “stupid court”.
I dont believe that stupidity is what we are witnessing at the Supreme Court. I think we are witnessing intentional wrong decision-making. But I appreciate how a non lawyer can be inelegant in articulating fully how deplorable judicial decision-making has been and how far it goes to depreciate our democratic experience.
However, I think that in a democracy citizens have the unbridled right to call any institution stupid. Including the President/Presidency; Parliament and the Judiciary. No one is immune from democratic ridicule and criticisms, no matter how boisterous or vulgar. People call me stupid all the time on this app, and I am not dead. In fact I dont even block them.
I invite the Supreme Court to listen to the voice of Apaloo J in WANKYIWAA v. WEREDUWAA AND ANOTHER [1963] 1 GLR 332-337 when he stressed that “No court is contaminated by bad language”
I think Courts should develop tougher skins lest they may be accused of being filled with fragile ego’s who lack the fortitude required of judges in a democracy.
Shalom!
