Judges are not Angels and Saints

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Dzigbodi , CT 12 years ago

Thank you for your write up. I know that the almighty God himself will protect Ken until he is release. And I know he will come back stronger than he went in.

Thank you for your write up. I know that the almighty God himself will protect Ken until he is release. And I know he will come back stronger than he went in.
Fo Kwaku - Tanyingbe 12 years ago

LETS ALL CONDEM HIS ACTIONS AND INACTIONS. ITS DAGEROUS TO SUPPORT HIS CRIMINAL ACTS AND DISRESPECT FOR THE SUPREME COURT

LETS ALL CONDEM HIS ACTIONS AND INACTIONS. ITS DAGEROUS TO SUPPORT HIS CRIMINAL ACTS AND DISRESPECT FOR THE SUPREME COURT
insight to the bone 12 years ago

Since before independence we have been plagued by all sorts of ruthless , vicious and willfully authoritative govts that all have one thing in common , denying the right of free speech and proper analysis of the motives and a ...
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Since before independence we have been plagued by all sorts of ruthless , vicious and willfully authoritative govts that all have one thing in common , denying the right of free speech and proper analysis of the motives and agendas they seek to keep hidden . Most of these govts were led by people who didnt belong to the majority but rather minority tribes and very marginal political clans . starting with nkrumah who is praised to high heaven but this same oligarchy , he st in motion a climate of fierce political antagonism whereby moderate minds of a liberal persuasion had no business in participating as only the radicals could stand the heat .The MOTIVE , be able to spend without consensus or agreement the wealth of the nation ie in today's jargon chop Ghana money some . This style and system of government was perfected by kwasea rawlings and today we have pepeni whose agenda is finalse the colonization of the majority , the Akans with the assistance of the homicidal ayigbe and the idiot pepefuo . they now use the institution called the supreme court to gag all free thinking individuals so the climate is set to enslave and now steal the oil and gas. they tell us nkrumah was so good so i say to them we hope ghana breaks up and their first presidents are just like him. when we secede we give them all the gold reserves in Switzerland and pay them another 20 billion on top so these ewes and pepefuo are rich and let their nkrumah come and spend that money in 2 years and leave them in debt for 2000 years , that is our revenge . hopefully their first nkrumah presidents are just as manipulative and propagandists so a greater part of that money is used to secure the unity of the universe as thats a very good thing not only african or nigger unity . the rest of the money we graciously leave them should be used in establishing useless unsustainable businesses that only feed other economies and drain their own . yes we wish them well as they have to us for over 60 years . we in the meantime Akans will build a nation truly worthy of our capabilities and potentials with a minimum wage of not less than 10,000 dollars so our beers in our bars are at least 100 dollars so these pepefuo and ayigbe idiots can not afford to visit us just like the Japanese do to their ndc idols the Chinese , long live the republic of Akan
Kojo T 12 years ago

Was it only NPP that went to jail?You guys always twist facts. When 6 people were executed after June 4th you will write only Akans were sngled out. Away with your selective memeory. Is Atubiga also not human?

Was it only NPP that went to jail?You guys always twist facts. When 6 people were executed after June 4th you will write only Akans were sngled out. Away with your selective memeory. Is Atubiga also not human?
C'MAN- Fairfax, Virginia 12 years ago

Judges are generally to protect the people and interperate the law aside other numerous duties they performed like any other citizen of a country.But these supreme court judges sitting on this election petition case are more ...
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Judges are generally to protect the people and interperate the law aside other numerous duties they performed like any other citizen of a country.But these supreme court judges sitting on this election petition case are more than Dictators if they really know the contitution of Ghana and also understand what is free speech.Can they recollect and count the number of even insults people ruin on the former presidents of the state? Here I am not saying it is right to say bad things about the presidents.Ghanaians should get to the street and peacefully protest this unconstitutional behaviour of these judges and if possible the chief justice should reconstituted the panel of judges with new faces since the trust and the integraty of these ones are highly doubtful.They just want to surpress the public and the media.Let's act before they put the country in a harm way. Kwame I have really enjoyed reading your piece.More of these because I always have your back.
Prof Lungu 12 years ago

We are steadfast in support of Freedom of Speech for all Ghanaians, and Freedom of the Press for all persons in that noble profession.

We believe that the panel of judges, Justice Atuguba, in particular, is greatly over- ...
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We are steadfast in support of Freedom of Speech for all Ghanaians, and Freedom of the Press for all persons in that noble profession.

We believe that the panel of judges, Justice Atuguba, in particular, is greatly over-stepping their jurisdiction in attempting to censure free speech outside their courtroom.

Respect is earned. Respect is not given or commanded.

That a Supreme Court justice will loudly proclaim that they cannot be "intimidated" is not the mark of temperate leadership, wisdom, or good reflection.

That is unnecessary aggressive language!

That a Supreme Court Justice will take offence and cause to be imprisoned a citizen of Ghana merely because that person outside his courtroom has opined that the judge is a "mere" judge, or that the same judge is being "selective and hypocritical", is a mighty poor reflection on the dignity of the Supreme Court of Ghana.

Not all asses-of-laws on the books deserve enforcement. There ought to be priority. As in focusing on the important case. That is what ought to matter to all Ghanaians.

By intimidation Ghanaians and attempting to control the free speech of Ghanaians, the panel hearing the 2012 election complaint are certainly eroding a lot of the reserved credit the Supreme Court of Ghana ever had.

Let common sense and respect for freedom of speech, for freedom of the press, reign!
Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 12 years ago

Katakyie, those of us who are not lawyers ought to be careful in debating this matter because the issue of free speech and press freedom versus contempt of court is a very contentious. We should remember that both rights are ...
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Katakyie, those of us who are not lawyers ought to be careful in debating this matter because the issue of free speech and press freedom versus contempt of court is a very contentious. We should remember that both rights are not absolute.

There is nothing wrong with constructive criticism but what Ken Kuranchie was alleged to have written could not be constructive criticism. His comment imputed ill motive and sought to discredit the integrity of the court and to me, that is the crust of the matter. To criticise a decision of a court and impute ill motive when the case is ongoing is nothing but interference with the administration of justice.

Moreover, in this particular instance, there was a warning or an order by the court regarding contempt of court. When that order or warning is breached and if in the view of the court, the breach constitutes contempt of court, the contemnor could be brought before the and sentence accordingly. That is what happened in this case.

Personally, I am of the view that the custodial sentence was too highhanded and it sent the wrong message, that of fear instead of warning.

The crime of contempt of court is debatable and this is particularly true in Ghana, where the this area of law is underdeveloped.
Prof Lungu 12 years ago

Kofi Ata,

You are all over the place the way we see it!

It appears you do not have a standard for "constructive criticism" outside a classroom. Perhaps that is why choose to dabble in "what Ken Kuranchie was alleged to ...
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Kofi Ata,

You are all over the place the way we see it!

It appears you do not have a standard for "constructive criticism" outside a classroom. Perhaps that is why choose to dabble in "what Ken Kuranchie was alleged to have written", at this point.

The "crime of contempt of court" is really NOT debatable.

What is debatable is where it is applied, to whom, and for what public-centered reasons unrelated to the "feelings" of a particular judge. That, to us, is "the crust of the matter."

ITEM: It is up to us, people like you who have experienced governance in Cambridge, UK, and in many other different contexts all over the world, to lend a strong voice so (1) Ghanaians who do not have those benefits can conceptualize alternative universes, (2) "highhanded" judges do not send "the wrong message...fear", etc.
Kojo T 12 years ago

Prof please read the post on contempt. I guess you are in the USA and follow the case of George Ziemmerman carefully. Just listen to the analysis. is it not a far cry from what was happening in the Ghanaian media? Let us leav ...
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Prof please read the post on contempt. I guess you are in the USA and follow the case of George Ziemmerman carefully. Just listen to the analysis. is it not a far cry from what was happening in the Ghanaian media? Let us leave the Justices to do their work
Prof Lungu 12 years ago

Come on, Kojo T!

Ever imagined what is "contempt" is actually in the eye of the beholder?
Looks like that is an item you may want to reflect on, if we may!

ITEM: The judge at the head of the court in the Trayvon Marti ...
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Come on, Kojo T!

Ever imagined what is "contempt" is actually in the eye of the beholder?
Looks like that is an item you may want to reflect on, if we may!

ITEM: The judge at the head of the court in the Trayvon Martin case has no authority to gag anyone outside her courtroom who is not a lawyer directly associated with the case, or a witness. (Witnesses are not being gagged, except they may be recalled with respect to what they may have said in public).

Maybe you are arguing those Supreme Court judges ought to be elected, which is precisely the case in Florida! If that was the case, can you really imagine these judges throwing their weight around with subjective "contempt" charges.

Kojo T, looks like it is the S/C justices who are wasting time, spending much of their "credit" on tangentially related matters, and as a result, failing to "do their work" in reasonable time.

Yaw Amofa 12 years ago

You would have made a very good case, if your article wasn't one sided! Of the three people sanction by the court, you chose mention only two, and that is only because one is your school mate! As for the one you blanked out, ...
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You would have made a very good case, if your article wasn't one sided! Of the three people sanction by the court, you chose mention only two, and that is only because one is your school mate! As for the one you blanked out, he deserved jail, doesn't he? Let us see all wrongs as wrongs! Instead of blaming the panel of judges for Ken's fate, blame the NPP lawyers who represented him. Lastly "S3 wode kokrob)tire k) ayie ase a, y3de sotr) gya wo kwan!"
Agyaagya 12 years ago

Stop this nonsense,first of all the bias and authoritarian judgement against free speech or part of the society is simply wrong.

Stop this nonsense,first of all the bias and authoritarian judgement against free speech or part of the society is simply wrong.
Yaw Amofa 12 years ago

I normally would have matched the tone of your comment accordingly, but I would not for the sake of sound reasoning. Where in the world is there free speech? What would be free speech in one society would not be in another. T ...
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I normally would have matched the tone of your comment accordingly, but I would not for the sake of sound reasoning. Where in the world is there free speech? What would be free speech in one society would not be in another. That is not to say people must be gagged, but when the society agrees that this is how it must be, it must be respected.
Juicy Chic. 12 years ago

Thank you Mr Yaw , (From the recent judgements passed unto Messrs Sammy Awuku and Ken Kuranchie,) He mention two of his men and rubbish ATUBIGA because the Atubiga guy is an animal and pepeni to deserved it . Our biggest prob ...
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Thank you Mr Yaw , (From the recent judgements passed unto Messrs Sammy Awuku and Ken Kuranchie,) He mention two of his men and rubbish ATUBIGA because the Atubiga guy is an animal and pepeni to deserved it . Our biggest problem in Ghana is how we treat some people from some tribes and value a particular tribe as untouchables and superior, May God have mercy on us .
mahama must come clean 12 years ago

WE ALL SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COURT ROOM,AND ANSWER IS ATUBIGA FATHER WAS THERE,NOT KK,BUT NOW MAHAMA POWER FROM ABOVE MOVED KK FROM HERE TO THERE WHY,SO PEOPLE MUST UNDERSTAND IT ALL,PERIOD,ITS A SHAME,POOR GHANIANS,STILL ...
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WE ALL SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COURT ROOM,AND ANSWER IS ATUBIGA FATHER WAS THERE,NOT KK,BUT NOW MAHAMA POWER FROM ABOVE MOVED KK FROM HERE TO THERE WHY,SO PEOPLE MUST UNDERSTAND IT ALL,PERIOD,ITS A SHAME,POOR GHANIANS,STILL GOD IS BEGGER THAN WHAT THEY ARE DOING,ITS FUNNY
KB 12 years ago

Thank you,Amofa,thank you very much.

Thank you,Amofa,thank you very much.
kwesi 12 years ago

expression of freedom of speech does not mean people should speak rubbish. remember where your freedom begins to express itself is where another person's freedom ends. in the name of freedom of expression people like you spea ...
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expression of freedom of speech does not mean people should speak rubbish. remember where your freedom begins to express itself is where another person's freedom ends. in the name of freedom of expression people like you speak rubbish. that is your opinion and understanding of freedom of expression. rubbish.
STONER KOBYLYNTON 12 years ago

Kwasi, cool down and support your comment with facts and not insults. By the way can you remember the number of times when previous Head of States in our country were criticised and insulted? Did they put somebody in jail - a ...
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Kwasi, cool down and support your comment with facts and not insults. By the way can you remember the number of times when previous Head of States in our country were criticised and insulted? Did they put somebody in jail - absolutely not. Go back and read the article very well to get the real meaning and not understanding it.

As the writer made it clear that, the people elect the President and the Legislative body whilst the President appoint Judges to the Lower and the Supreme Courts. Judges are humans as you and everyone and they make mistakes many times in their rulings that is why sometimes they revist their own rulings and overturn it.

Remember that we are not in the pre-colonial days when the country was ruled by kings and chiefs who thought the people in their kingdom were their subjects and as such any individual who oppose their rule were imprisoned or banished. It was such unchecked absolute power waged by the kings and chiefs which started the slave trading. We have to point the fault of these wiglords out so they don't wage absolute power over the people who pay them to protect their constitutional rights. If unchecked, and somebody pick a bone with any of the judges in the country, the individual may have his/her sleeping place changed overnight. They are fallible as you, me and everyone.
AUSTRALIA 12 years ago

WE ALL KNOW WHAT FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS AND PLEASE STOP LECTURING GHANAIANS WHAT YOUR VERSION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH SHOULD BE.
THE JUDGES ARE THERE TO PRORECT THE NATION FROM ANARCHY AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO HAVE A PERVERTED SEN ...
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WE ALL KNOW WHAT FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS AND PLEASE STOP LECTURING GHANAIANS WHAT YOUR VERSION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH SHOULD BE.
THE JUDGES ARE THERE TO PRORECT THE NATION FROM ANARCHY AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO HAVE A PERVERTED SENSE OF FREEDOM.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS NOT MEANT TO BE ABUSED BY PEOPLE LIKE KURANCHIE,AWUKU OR ANY NDC MEMBER.
GHANA COMES FIRST BEFORE PARTY POLITICS.
GOT THAT?
STONER KOBYLYNTON 12 years ago

Australia, take it that l have corrupt sense of freedom and just supporting these gentlemen who were hauled before these wiglords. The comments made by Awuku and Kuranchie are not insidious which warrant a jail term. These wi ...
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Australia, take it that l have corrupt sense of freedom and just supporting these gentlemen who were hauled before these wiglords. The comments made by Awuku and Kuranchie are not insidious which warrant a jail term. These wiglords are just using their office to tramp others freedom of speech and if left unchecked in its early stage, a time may come when any flimsy comment will see people in jail houses.

Irrespective of the fact that our democracy is young and needs to be nurtured, does not bar us to criticise people in authority when they err. After all we the people foot their kitchen tables and they have to stomach our criticism and ponder over it rather than making such hasty judgements. They are wrong. Period. By the way desist from writing in uppercase as it against writing etiquette. If you were annoyed prior posting your comment then you are not blamed. E&OE.

BK 12 years ago

Oh, yes, in a true freedom of speech environment, people are entitled to speak rubbish. If you have a reason to believe that the "rubbish talk" breaks the law then you take the offender to court, prove your case, and seek app ...
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Oh, yes, in a true freedom of speech environment, people are entitled to speak rubbish. If you have a reason to believe that the "rubbish talk" breaks the law then you take the offender to court, prove your case, and seek appropriate sanctions. My question is, did Mr. Kuranchie get a fair trial? I don't know the answer to that question. If you do, please enlighten me about it.
nana addo dankwa akufo addo 12 years ago

"You cannot have your cake and eat it"? Do u really mean that? Hahahahaaaa

"You cannot have your cake and eat it"? Do u really mean that? Hahahahaaaa
Kwobia ( Toronto ) 12 years ago

The writer has misunderstood the SC.It has not undermined free speech,instead it has sort to
Curtail unwarranted insults heaped towards it.

The writer has misunderstood the SC.It has not undermined free speech,instead it has sort to
Curtail unwarranted insults heaped towards it.
princewilly@ymail.com 12 years ago

The young clerk's responsibilities included bringing the judge a hot cup of coffee at the start of every day. Each morning the judge was enraged that the coffee cup arrived two-thirds full. The clerk explained that he had to ...
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The young clerk's responsibilities included bringing the judge a hot cup of coffee at the start of every day. Each morning the judge was enraged that the coffee cup arrived two-thirds full. The clerk explained that he had to rush to get the coffee delivered while it was still hot, which caused him to spill much of it along the way.

None of the judge's yelling and insults produced a full cup of coffee, until he finally threatened to cut the clerk's pay by one-third if he continued to produce one-third less than the judge wanted.

The next morning he was greeted with a cup of coffee that was full to the brim, and the next morning and the morning after that. The judge couldn't resist gloating over his success and smugly complimented the clerk on his new technique.

"Oh, there's not much to it," admitted the clerk happily, "I take some coffee in my mouth right outside the coffee room, and spit it back in when I get outside your office."
Prof Lungu 12 years ago

Ha!

Ha!
Richard 12 years ago

All this is thrash. NPP shall never come to power. Forget it.

All this is thrash. NPP shall never come to power. Forget it.
TT 12 years ago

Trash not Thrash

Trash not Thrash
GAWUKO 12 years ago

You are far from sainthood, let alone coming anywhere near an angel. Your article because of the one sided view you presented did not add quality to the debate which is raging on. The only thing that can be said for it is tha ...
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You are far from sainthood, let alone coming anywhere near an angel. Your article because of the one sided view you presented did not add quality to the debate which is raging on. The only thing that can be said for it is that you have or had free speech. Was there sense in it? Anyone's guess. Surely though saints and angels will not bother to comment. We are humans so we take the liberty to comment, freely of course.
FRED ASEM 12 years ago

Yes, of course, they are not and will never be, just like your arrogant and foolish useless and arrogant drug addict,Akufo Addo is not born to be president.If this impersonator had not taken Ghanaians for granted, and taken t ...
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Yes, of course, they are not and will never be, just like your arrogant and foolish useless and arrogant drug addict,Akufo Addo is not born to be president.If this impersonator had not taken Ghanaians for granted, and taken to become president by the back door of the court instead of through the ballot, these judges wouldn´t have be pretending to be what they really are not.Think properly before you open your smelling shit eating mouth! Your useless drug addict thinks Ghana is for him and that all the judges in Ghana are in favour of his criminal posture and activities.He will never and never be president of this country.This time not even a minister.Swine.
DAN 12 years ago

for taking bribes or corrupt in other ways

for taking bribes or corrupt in other ways

GENERAL DeGAULE 12 years ago

Next time enlighten yourself on the law of civil and criminal contempt first before you attempt an essay on freedom of speech.

Next time enlighten yourself on the law of civil and criminal contempt first before you attempt an essay on freedom of speech.
P N ARHIN. 12 years ago

well said, the writer of this article.

well said, the writer of this article.
obelow 12 years ago

kuranchie is a sacrificial soul for our victory to come.

kuranchie is a sacrificial soul for our victory to come.
Whatever 12 years ago

Sitting judges, in order to have their authority and respect preserved are barred from granting interviews, issuing statements or to have exchanges on-air to defend themselves against harmful accusations. That is why the law ...
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Sitting judges, in order to have their authority and respect preserved are barred from granting interviews, issuing statements or to have exchanges on-air to defend themselves against harmful accusations. That is why the law calls for punishment against those who take advantage of that limitation placed upon them to abuse them. It is the law working. Nobody is saying you shouldn't criticise judges, what we are saying is that criticise them after they have giving their ruling. That is what the law says
Abdulrazak Tindana 12 years ago

May almighty Allah be with u Ken.

May almighty Allah be with u Ken.
KBJ 12 years ago

WHO TOLD YOU THAT THERE ARE SAINTS AND ANEGELS

WHO TOLD YOU THAT THERE ARE SAINTS AND ANEGELS

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Judges are not Angels and Saints

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