GBA finds Madina MP’s “political judges” comment unprofessional
In a statement, the GBA stated that those comments were also irresponsible and distasteful because the tenure of judges according to the 1992 Constitution is not tied to a political regime.
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has expressed its disapproval over comments Madina Member of Parliament, Francis -Xavier Sosu made, implying that some judges are politically motivated in the performance of their duties.
In a statement, the GBA stated that those comments were also irresponsible and distasteful because the tenure of judges according to the 1992 Constitution is not tied to a political regime.
“Judges, unlike political office holders, are not elected into office; hence it is reckless for anybody to give the slightest suggestion that the tenure of judges are linked to the tenure of the political regimes under which judges are appointed,” it said.
Mr. Sosu, who is equally a lawyer, made the comments when he gave an interview to reporters at a protest last week.
Mr Sosu during the Yentua demonstration last Thursday, February 10, asserted that some judges have become political in the line of work and that such judges would be treated as such.
“What it means is that when you become partisan as a judge remember that your tenure of office as a judge will run with the political party that you favour. Let that be clear because political power is very transient, positions are not possessions, so people will come, people will go,” he said.
The Bar Association further stated that the Legal Profession Rules, 2020 (L.I.2423) forbids a lawyer from making false statements about judicial and legal officials.
“These unwarranted, unnecessary and unjustified” attacks on judges have the potential of creating disaffection and ill-will for judges and for that matter the Judiciary,” it stated.
The GBA has additionally cautioned lawyers to be circumspect in their utterances.
“The GBA would like to caution that as a people we must be guided by our history. It was similar irresponsible and unguarded utterances in the past by people who ought to have known better that resulted in the abduction and gruesome murder of the three High Court Judges,” it said.
