Judges want parties in cases pending before court to exercise restraint, show decorum

The Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) has called on litigants, parties, and lawyers, who have cases in court to exercise restraint, show decorum, and avoid anything that undermines the administration of justice.

The Association said their behaviour tended to disrupt the peace of the country.

Justice Henry Anthony Kwofie, President of AMJG, expressed these concerns about events happening around two cases pending before the Supreme Court of Ghana.

These cases are Dr. Amanda Odoi Versus the Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney General and Richard Sky versus Parliament of Ghana and the Attorney General.

He said on Monday, October 7, 2024, the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Madam Ellen Ofei-Ayeh issued a press statement and gave an update on the two cases.

The summary of the Registrar’s statement was that the parties in the two cases had not filed the requisite processes as required by the Supreme Court Rules 1996 (C.I. 16).

He said specifically in respect of Richard Sky versus Parliament of Ghana and the Attorney General, the Registrars’ statement showed clearly that there was pending before the Supreme Court an application filed on October 1, 2024, by Counsel for Parliament of Ghana.

It is a motion for extension of time to file 1st, defendant/applicant’s statement of case.

He said that the application was yet to be heard by the Court and in effect both cases were not ripe for hearing and the press release of the Supreme Court Registrar made that very clear to everyone who cared to know.

He said and yet in spite of this clear statement, on Tuesday October 8, 2024, a Group of people went to the demonstration and sought to enter the Supreme Court premises.

“Not only did these demonstrators sought to enter the supreme Court premises but shouted abuses and insults at the Judiciary and the Chief Justice and demanded the judgment should be given in their favour in the LGBTQ cases,” he added.

Justice Kwofie said the conduct of the demonstrators and their leaders, and the insults levelled against Judiciary and the Chief Justice left much to be desired.

He said every court from the District Court through to the Supreme Court had a procedure to be followed by every litigant and no judge, not even the Chief Justice, could torpedo that procedure and the Rules of Court.

The President said when people, who were supposed to know better sought to stampede the judiciary and attack the judiciary, it was a threat to the judicial institution and all that it stood for.

He said such conduct subverted the judicial process and ought to be condemned by all Ghanaians and to protect judges and staff of the Judicial Service.

“Such behaviour by litigants in cases pending before the Courts subverts the judicial process and undermines the administration of Justice,” he added.