‘We're concerned about the seeming judicial dictatorship under Anin-Yeboah’ – NDC

The National Democratic Congress (NDC), has questioned the independence of the judiciary under the current Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, accusing him of superintending over what they call “judicial dictatorship”.

According to the party, its confidence in the judiciary has waned and that it cannot be compelled to change its position.

These sentiments were expressed by the General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah when he addressed the press on the back of a petition the Chief Justice filed against one of its members, Dominic Ayine.

An unhappy Anin-Yeboah wrote to the Judicial Secretary to the General Legal Council complaining about some comments expressed by Dr. Ayine on the 2020 Election Petition Judgement during an event organised by the Centre for Democratic Development, (CDD-Ghana).

The letter, addressed to the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council, accused Dr. Ayine of stating that “the Supreme Court's failure to apply the rules of procedures as well as the consistent and continuous dismissal of the petitioners' applications or reliefs were the basis of his assertion”.

According to the NDC scribe, this action by the Chief Justice has compounded their belief that the independence of the judiciary currently may have been compromised. They have thus called on the Chief Justice to withdraw the petition.

“As a matter of fact, neither Dr. Ayine nor we in the NDC can be compelled to increase our confidence in the independence of the judiciary, even when the court has not given us any basis or reason so to do. The Chief Justice ought to be reminded that according to Article 125 of our constitution, justice emanates from the people, and it is administered on behalf of the judiciary, which shall be independent. Public confidence and the independence of the judiciary must therefore be earned and not forced on us.”

“Nobody can force anyone to have confidence in a system that does not justify that confidence. It is natural, not possible. So if you want me to have confidence in you, you must demonstrate by your actions that you deserve that confidence. I cannot be compelled by any dictator to have confidence in anything that I don’t have confidence in… We are concerned at the seeming judicial dictatorship that is fast festering under the leadership of the current Chief Justice as an unwelcome development which threatens free speech and could potentially undermine our justice system,” he insisted.

---citinewsroom