Does the Chief Justice Stand Blameable for the Infliction of Police Brutalities on Innocent Citizens in Kumawu-Bodomase?

What a serious question to ask, does the Chief Justice stand blameable for the infliction of police brutalities on innocent citizens in Kumawu-Bodomase? If my views were sought on this tricky question, I would not hesitate a minute to answer in the affirmative that she is partially remotely culpable. This is because of the information available to me already following which I have sometimes been very critical of her.

If she had not by her commissions or omissions scuppered the speedy hearing of the Kumawu chieftaincy case pending before the Mampong High Court, each litigant in the Kumawu chieftaincy dispute would have known where they stand by now. By being aware of their position as would have legally been decided by the court, there wouldn’t be that sort of infliction of police brutalities on innocent citizens as was observed last Thursday, 16 February 2017, in Kumawu-Bodomase, in the first place.

What did she do, one may ask? A Mampong High Court judge, who presided over the court case filed against “Kumawuhene” Barima Sarfo Tweneboa Kodua for illegally destooling them simply for not attending his enthronement as Kumawuhene-elect, determined the case in favour of the deposed sub-chiefs. Barely had they returned to the court to request to be issued an order for administrative purposes when letters from the office of the Chief Justice had arrived at the court obliging further proceedings to be adjourned sine die.

Further to that, she directed the case to be transferred to a Kumasi High Court, assigned a specific judge to hear it and then have the Mampong High Court judge transferred to Bolgatanga. This was a judge who was telling the truth, and did not allow himself to be swayed by materialistic offers unlike his other colleagues caught by the ace investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas for twisting justice based on acceptance of bribes of all shapes and forms.

From a layman’s perspective, why should the Chief Justice intervene to intentionally or inadvertently cause the refusal of the requested orders being given to the sub-chiefs who have been declared victorious in the case? Could the alleged Kumawuhene Barima Sarfo Tweneboa Kodua (in private life as Dr Yaw Sarfo) not appeal the case if he felt the judge had been biased towards him instead of petitioning you with the subsequent bizarre letters from your office?

As said, had it not been your untimely intervention shrouded in dubiety, Dr Yaw Sarfo (Barima Tweneboa Kodua) would not be able today to arrange with Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to arrange armed police cum military to descend on Kumawu-Bodomase to intimidate and inflict various degrees on injuries on the mourners.

What has happened in Kumawu-Bodomase with regard to the police brutalities inflicted on the people, will surely intermittently come back to haunt our dear Chief Justice throughout all the days of her impending retirement.

If indeed those letters came from her without the probable secret interference by one Opoku Acheampong, a fellow Kumawu subject, then guilty conscience will never spare our Chief Justice.

Rockson Adofo
(Written on Saturday, 18 February 2017)