Chief Justice E. K. Wiredu has dismissed suggestions that the recent meeting between President Kufuor and the Supreme Court judges compromised the independence of the judiciary. Justice Wiredu says, if anything at all, the meeting, was meant to help the judiciary assert its independence. He says the meeting also drew the attention of the Executive to the problems confronting the judiciary.
Justice Wiredu’s comments follow criticisms from the minority in Parliament that the closed-door meeting between the judges and the President raised doubts about the independence of the judiciary.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Justice Wiredu said the meeting was called at the instance of the judiciary and not the President. He said the meeting discussed the budget of the judiciary for this year, service conditions for judges and legal sector reforms.
"It’s rather unfortunate that the issue has been dragged as if we are also party to politics. We are outside politics and can assure you that so far as performance in the courts are concerned, we will betray anybody who attempt to influence us. We will never allow ourselves to be used. Everybody wants to command a clean legacy before he leaves."
Justice Wiredu told the press conference that this is not the first such meeting between the judiciary and the Executive. He said the Supreme Court judges have over the years been holding regular meetings with Heads of State.
"As a chief justice I have the right of audience with the President at anytime. It is part of the prerogative of the Chief Justice. I can’t remain mute and independent of the Executive. If the legislature can talk to the President, why can’t the judiciary talk to him? I will be the mouthpiece for the judiciary and everything that we say will not concern cases that are pending in court."
He said as a follow-up to the meeting with the President, the Supreme Court Judges will soon meet with members of the Judicial and Legal Committee of Parliament to deliberate on problems confronting the judiciary.
Meanwhile, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Freddie Blay, says it is dangerous for the NDC Minority in Parliament to politicise and read ill motives into last week’s meeting between President John Kufuor and a delegation from the Judiciary led by the Chief Justice.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Blay expressed surprise at the minority’s reaction saying there is nothing wrong with the President meeting any citizen of Ghana anytime anywhere. He said the practice of watertight separation of powers should not be swallowed hook, line and sinker.
He pointed out that by criticising the judiciary for meeting with the President, the NDC Members of Parliament were in effect calling for executive and the judiciary to view each other suspiciously.
