A former justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, Justice William Atuguba, has argued that current events in the country point to a clear case of systemic corruption where private interests are overriding national interests.
Speaking in an interview on TV3 monitored by GhanaWeb, the retired Supreme Court justice passionately emphasized that the situation has led to the constitution of the country being rendered ineffective.
“Right now, I am sorry to say, but looking at things, if we are honest, and the important word is honesty, there is state capture of this country; complete state capture. A negation of the constitution, it has happened,” he stated.
He alluded to some tenets in The Directive Principles of State Policy contained in the 1992 Constitution, including citizens' right to fundamental human rights, noting a complete disregard for principles guaranteed by the law.
“In terms of what is this constitution being upheld? Tell me; is it freedom of speech? Is it the fundamental human rights enshrined there? Right to economic welfare and all that,” he stated while quoting Chapter 6 of the Constitution.
The statement by the legal luminary comes on the back of recent calls by the opposition National Democratic Congress for a forensic audit to be conducted by the Electoral Commission on the voter register.
According to the NDC, there is a need to correct some anomalies it has identified in the register via an independent audit.
But according to the EC, it has and continues to correct issues within the register, hence no need for an independent forensic audit.
However, according to Justice Atuguba, the position of the EC on the subject is rather “absurd” and dictatorial in the face of the Constitution.
TWI NEWS
GA/KA
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