"I'm not anti media, but an advocate of the poor" - CJ

Acting Chief Justice, Mr Justice Edward Kwame Wiredu, has explained that his recent comments on the Criminal Libel Law were to remind government and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to institute mechanisms to cater for the defamed poor who cannot afford legal costs.

Speaking at an Enrolment Ceremony in Accra for 97 lawyers, in Accra, Mr Justice Wiredu said with the repeal of the Law, it is important to give the National Media Commission the power to offer satisfactory redress to victims of defamation who cannot pursue civil action and sanction offenders when it becomes necessary.

He said: "Recent events have given the impression that I am against the media and further that there are problems between the Attorney-General and myself. "Both impressions are false and inaccurate. My relations with the Attorney-General are excellent and we enjoy very cordial working relations."

Mr Justice Wiredu asked the public, including the new lawyers, to note that judges have taken oaths and have been trained to apply the law "as they find it and not as they would like it to be".

In remarks at the annual meeting of the Ghana Bar Association at Sunyani on Monday Justice Wiredu questioned the justification for the repeal of the criminal libel law, saying it had only given undue liberties to journalists and some members of the public to peddle falsehood.

The remarks have attracted a lot of criticisms in the media, with some labelling him as "anti-media".

Mr Justice Wiredu stressed that it was the duty of judges to apply the law even when they held contrary view. He urged judges and lawyers to be bold to speak their minds and not to look for the popular view always.

"Do not be afraid to take unpopular cases and build constructive values there from." He cited lawyers such as the Mr Adumoa Bossman, Mr Victor Owusu, Mr Joe Reindorf, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey and Mr Akoto Ampaw as models.

Mr Justice Wiredu advised the newly enrolled lawyers to accept cases with merit, pursue good causes and be courageous to reject clients with bad cases.

"You should never be blinded by monetary gains to pursue what is a frivolous or mischievous case in court," he said.