Judges fear to dispense justice lawfully after Torkornoo's removal - Kodua

The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Frimpong Kodua, has expressed concerns over the state of the judiciary in the country.

He said judges are now afraid to dispense justice following the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo.

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Speaking at the NPP’s headquarters, Kodua expressed alarm at what he described as a disturbing pattern of interference in the judicial system, citing cases where individuals standing trial were dismissed.

“We have seen the disturbing pattern of filing a nolle prosequi to free their members who were standing trial for allegedly embezzling huge sums of money from the state. We have seen attempts to capture state institutions, including the judiciary, in efforts to reserve parliamentary seats we have won or they have legitimately lost,” he said.

He lamented that the judiciary, which is meant ‘to be the last vanguard of the rule of law,’ has been compromised by the executive.

“Unfortunately, the judiciary, which is supposed to be the last vanguard of rule of law has suddenly been captured by the executive, particularly after the unlawful removal of the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Araba Torkornoo,” Kodua expressed.

Kodua added that judges are hesitant to make decisions according to the law for fear of facing the same treatment as the former Chief Justice.

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“Today in Ghana, judges fear to dispense justice according to the law because they fear they may also suffer the same fate as Justice Torkornoo. Shockingly, some judges now invoke the words of dictators such as Idi Amin with the famous pronouncement ‘you may have freedom of speech, but freedom after speech cannot be guaranteed’, and this is what comes from a judge.

"Others assume when none exists, issuing politically questionable rulings involving parliamentary cases,” he added.

MAG/AE

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