Private legal practitioner Kofi Bekai says the most important thing in the appointment of judges to the superior courts is not necessarily about the one who appointed them but the judges’ fidelity to law and duty to the people of the Republic of Ghana.
He argued that judges must be fair and candid in carrying out their constitutional duties without fear or favour.
Commenting on the nomination of seven Court of Appeal judges to the Supreme Court bench, Mr Bekai posited that the core objective is for the judges to be personalities of integrity.
He stated, “Whether you load the Supreme Court with your favourite, it doesn’t matter. What matters is what you file in court, your submissions in court, and your ability to persuade the court that your case should take precedence over the other party’s case. It doesn’t matter who sits on the court. When you are nominated to the bench, you abandon the idea of the person who made you. Being NPP or NDC should not be an issue. Justice is the only thing that can help us overcome our obstacles.”
If we bastardise our judiciary, no investor will come. It makes no difference who appointed you. You are expected to carry out your duties with integrity. When it comes to the bench and delivering justice, it makes no difference who appointed you; be objective and do nothing to benefit anyone. Judges must carry out their duties with clean hands, he said.”
He has, however, criticised the ruling government for promising to introduce guidelines to limit the number of Supreme Court judges appointed and then doing the opposite once in power.
The lawyer stated that the constitution does not specify the number of judges who must be appointed, so after taking office, President Mahama nominated seven judges to the Supreme Court. Nobody can complain because the President is responsible for appointing the judges.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
