Kumasi Circuit Court judge unfazed by attacks – JUSSAG

Her Honour Mary Nsenkyire, the Circuit Court judge in Kumasi, who was nearly assaulted by pro-NPP group Delta Force on Thursday, is unfazed by the incident, Alex Nartey, president of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSSAG), has said.

The judge had ordered the 13 members of the vigilante group, on trial for conspiracy to commit crime, assault on a public officer, causing unlawful damage and preventing a public officer from doing his lawful duty, to be remanded in custody and re-appear on the 20th of April 2017.

Speaking in an interview with Emefa Apawu on the 505 programme on Friday April 7, he said: “We are pleased to report that by the grace of God, after interacting with her and assuring her of our support, she is doing well, she has not given up.”

JUSSAG and the Judicial Council have jointly released a statement condemning the attacks on the court describing it as an attack on judicial independence.

The statement said: “The Judicial Council at an emergency meeting held on the 7th April, 2017, discussed the matter and condemned in the strongest term this brazen and unwarranted assault by members of the group who defied the authority of a duly constituted court of law. This act of impunity is not only a grave affront to the independence and dignity of the judiciary, but also an attack on the rule of law and the administration of justice in a constitutional democracy…

“The nation’s attempt at democratic government and enforcement of the rule of law will flounder and fail if such actions are allowed to fester. Meanwhile the Judicial Service appeals to all judges and staff to remain calm and continue to go about their work without fear. The Judicial Council takes note of the assurances given by the government with regard to this matter. The Council will keep in touch with government on the issue of security for judges and staff and additional steps to be taken to avert any such incidents in the future.”