Akufo-Addo didn’t err swearing in CJ on holiday – Ben Abdalla

The Chairman for the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament Ben Abdalla has downplayed claims that President Akufo-Addo erred in law for swearing into office Chief Justice Anin Yeboah on a public holiday.

Some lawyers and social commentators have faulted President Akufo-Addo for choosing to swear in the 14th Chief Justice of the country on the Constitution Day – a day set aside as a public holiday by his government.

Speaking to Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Wednesday, Mr Abdalla, who is a lawyer, said there is no law barring the president from undertaking such exercise a holiday.

“There is nothing wrong with swearing-in the Chief Justice on a public holiday because it is within the prerogative of the president to decide on which day to do it after Parliament has approved him.

“Secondly there is no law that bars the president from swearing him in on a holiday,” he said.

Chief Justice Anin Yeboah in his first statement after his swearing-in said he is Honoured to have been appointed as Chief Justice of Ghana. He registered his sincere thanks to the President, the Council of State and Parliament for the various constitutional roles they played leading to his appointed as Chief Justice.

He further indicated that there some urgent issues that came up during his vetting by Parliament will be given all the attention it deserves in order to find lasting solutions to them.

“During my vetting by Parliament, it was evident that the following issues concerning the Judiciary were of concern to the representative of the people of Ghana. The integrity of the Judiciary and perception of corruption, delays in the justice delivery system, poor infrastructure of the Courts and residences of Judicial officers, inadequate resources for the running of the Judiciary and Justice delivery system of Ghana.

“I want to assure the people of Ghana that I will continue to jealously guard the integrity of the Judiciary as my predecessors in office have done. I will take all necessary steps to ensure that during my term in office, solutions are found to these issues of concern” Justice Anin Yeboah said.

The ceremony was graced by the Vice President of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei Opare, former President John Kufour, former President Jerry John Rawlings, former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, Ministers of State, Justices of the Supreme Court, members of the Judicial Council and General Legal Council, members of the Council of State, Service Chiefs of the Republic, members of the Clergy, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, leadership and members of the Ghana Bar Association, Nananom and family members of the Chief Justice.