Rot in judiciary vindicates PPP - Asamoah-Siaw

Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has stated that it feels vindicated on its crusade for an incorruptible leadership in the country.

In a terse statement signed by its National Secretary, Kofi Asamoah-Siaw and copied to Today yesterday, it said: “now that the entire nation and the world at large have come to terms with the reality that the public sector is more corrupt than ever imagined, the Progressive People’s Party feels vindicated on its crusade for incorruptible leadership, including but not limited to the executive, legislature and judiciary arms of government.”

The PPP’s vindication, according to the statement, comes in the wake of the corruption scandal that has hit the judiciary with some thirty four (34) superior and lower court judges caught on camera taking bribes and or extorting money from people engaged in one litigation and the other.

It noted that besides the judges, over one hundred officials of the Judicial Service have also been cited in the rot uncovered by ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

And while the PPP acknowledged the swift response of the Judicial Council in suspending twenty two (22) Circuit Court Judges and Magistrates until [the] determination of their cases and initiation of the process of determining whether there is a prima facie case against each of the12 High Court Judges involved, the statement underscored the urgent need for reforms in the governance system to prevent such scandals, which according to the PPP, should be appreciated and supported by all stakeholders.

To that end, the PPP demanded the immediate initiation of the process of separating the Attorney-General’s Department from the ministry of justice with the establishment of an Independent Public Prosecutor’s Office without prejudice to any ongoing investigations into the current allegations of corruption in the judiciary.

And in view of the severity of the allegations that have rocked the judiciary, the statement said the scandal has far-reaching consequences for the sustenance of the nation’s democracy, and thus called on all to get ready to support the revival of the anti-corruption crusade to stop corruption and make incorruptible leadership a reality in Ghana.

It hinted of series of action to press home the demand for reforms to make Ghana work.