Don't celebrate judiciary only when decisions go your way - Majority Leader to Minority

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has admonished the Minority Caucus in Parliament to stop being selective in their celebration of the country's judiciary.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament have been of praise of the judiciary following the acquittal and discharge of their leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who was standing trial in a 2.37 million euro ambulance case.

A panel of three in a 2-1 majority decision on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, said Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe’s ruling on a submission of no case to answer on March 30, 2023, for the accused to open their defense was in error.

Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo and Justice Philip Bright Mensah granted the request and acquitted and discharged them, while Justice Poku Acheampong, the presiding judge, dismissed their request.

But reacting to the jubilation by the Minority Caucus on the floor of Parliament, Majority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin urged the NDC MPs to be consistent in celebrating the judiciary, not only when decisions made by the judicial arm of government favor them.

"I want to say that it is a day to celebrate the judiciary, except that, Mr Speaker, we have to be very consistent as a political class in our celebration of the judiciary. I agree with the position taken by Hon. Haruna Iddrisu: no executive arm of government can manipulate the judicial arm of the realm.

"Mr Speaker, it must never be said that the judiciary is under the control of the executive. Mr. Speaker, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, is a courtroom practitioner just as I am. One of the things we were taught at the Bar is to accept the decision of the court, and when we are not happy, we should go up, and that is how we enrich the law. So, I think that in his celebration, he shouldn't use this as a forum to attack the Attorney General, who has no right of audience here."

He added, "Mr Speaker, our friends must not be selective; they shouldn't choose when to celebrate the judiciary and when to attack them. Mr Speaker, today, the vetting of the Supreme Court nominees came to a standoff because of mere disagreement. Dr. Forson, Hon. Buah, and Agbodza, you are leading the front bench of this chamber.

"Let us understand that there are situations where we disagree, and even when we disagree, the language and the approach are essential. I celebrate your victory, and you know how much it means to democracy in this country."