The National Democratic Congress (NDC), the opposition party in Ghana, has raised concerns over the treatment of Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, who is also a High Court judge. The NDC has cautioned the Judiciary Council against any attempts to harass and intimidate him in his professional capacity.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, July 25, and signed by Fifi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the NDC, the party expressed its disapproval of actions that could hinder individuals from expressing their opinions on matters of national importance.
The NDC stated that it has observed the Judicial Council’s alleged efforts to intimidate the respected chief, and it believes that such conduct reinforces the growing public perception that the Judiciary, under President Akufo-Addo’s administration, is being used to silence critics of the government.
The party firmly warned that it will resist any actions aimed at suppressing the citizens’ right to free expression.
“We also note, that the disciplinary powers of the General Legal Council on which known NPP figures serve, has often been used as a tool to harass lawyers affiliated to the NDC through frivolous disciplinary hearings. We demand an immediate cessation of this hostile posturing as it constitutes manifest injustice against those affected.”
“The NDC hereby calls on the Judicial Council to reconsider its apparent persecution of the Dormaahene. We wish to caution, that should the Judicial Council proceed to harass and victimize the Dormaahene, the NDC will collaborate with other progressive forces and defenders of democracy to embark on a series of public manifestations to protest this creeping culture of judicial tyranny.”
The traditional leader, who is also the president of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, while speaking at a 10th-anniversary lecture of John Evans Atta Mills in Sunyani recently, appealed to the President to take steps to halt the trial against the MP-elect for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson.
“As a matter of urgency, I am appealing to the President of the Republic, Attorney General if he has any role to play, that the trial should be aborted,” he appealed.
The revered traditional ruler called on the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame “to as a matter of urgency file a nolle prosequi to end that particular decision.”https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dwM20LCt2tZ0r-VJdxi4vqenQTjxxua_/preview
The chief’s comments attracted mixed reactions from Ghanaians.
For instance, the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame said the remarks have the potential to jeopardize the fair adjudication of the case, and any comments undermining the administration of justice should not be tolerated.
“I will come out with a proper statement on the matter and it will be in respect of all comments generally which have the tendency to subvert the administration of justice.”
“I think that it is very unhealthy for our democratic dispensation and we must not countenance same.”