Ambulance trial judge has unquestionable integrity and is qualified to be a SC judge – Lawyer

Private Legal Practitioner, Kofi Bekai, hailed Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botchwey as an exceptional judge who deserves to be nominated to the Supreme Court by President Akufo-Addo.

The lawyer says the woman has over the years distinguished herself, and the quality of her job is there to be seen; hence, her nomination by the Chief Justice to the President was a step in the right direction.

Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has formally asked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to nominate five judges to the Supreme Court of Ghana.

The nominees include Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botchwey, who is currently presiding over the controversial ambulance trial involving the Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.

The others are Justice Cyra Pamela Koranteng, Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, and Justice Angelina Mensah Homiah.

Some have claimed that the timing was wrong and that the presiding judge of the Ato Forson ambulance trial is being rewarded politically. B

But Bekai described these assertions as false and unfortunate. He defended the judge, insisting she is a judge of substance and integrity and will not be compromised in any way.

Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he said the appointment of Justice Botchwey has nothing to do with the job she is doing as a presiding judge on the ambulance matter.

"Her appointment does not in any way influence her decision on the case before her. That one is out of the equation."

In the past, some personalities, such as Justice Apaw, Prof. Mensah-Bonsu, and others, presided over matters of national concern and were later appointed as Supreme Court judges, but one cannot attribute their appointments to the job they did for the state.

He said the Chief Justice, as head of the judiciary, knows the quality and standard of every single judge from the lower courts to the Supreme Court.

"Take this from me, the Chief Justice knows the pedigree of every judge from the district court to the Supreme Court.

"She knows the quality of every judge. The way this judge has worked and her performance will blow your imagination. She is very objective by all standards in the ongoing Ato Forson case.

"So, you cannot say that she does not qualify. Becoming a judge and dealing with the law in Ghana is a serious matter. If you want to appoint a judge, it has to go through several processes, which she must satisfy.

"So, I will not agree in one bit that she is being appointed based on political reasons.

"The objectivity and quality of the work she has delivered over the years outweigh any political perceptions. When appointed a judge, your integrity is on the line, and the rules you apply to your judgments are all issues that will come to play and could be subject to appeals. So every judge is careful of what he or she does."

On whether the Supreme Court appointments were becoming excessive, he said the Constitution does not set a limit on the number of appointments.

He said wherever there is a vacancy, it is the responsibility of the Chief Justice to recommend others to replace those who were due for retirement.