Mahama’s comment on NPP, NDC judges ‘extremely dangerous, brazen attack’ on Judiciary- President Akufo-Addo
President Akuffo maintained that judges are appointed based on merit per the constitutional requirement and therefore not solely in his power to do so.
The President, Nana Akufo-Addo has described a recent comment by the leader of the biggest opposition party on the nation’s judges as extremely dangerous and represents the most brazen attack on the Judiciary.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Bar Conference at Cape Coast on the theme; “Ensuring high standards and integrity in public life: The role of the legal profession,” the president quoted the constitutional requirement for the appointment of Judges to the various courts, said the comments by the former president are unfortunate.
At a conference of the NDC lawyers, the former president of the Republic said that the current NPP administration had packed the various courts with its sympathizers as judges and thus charged the NDC lawyers to prepare to accept appointment as judges when his party comes to power in 2024.
However, President Akuffo maintained that judges are appointed based on merit per the constitutional requirement and therefore not solely in his power to do so.
Additionally, the president charged the Judiciary to inspire confidence in the citizens so we will all see the courts as independent arbiters when disputes arise since their profession has a catalytic role to play in guaranteeing the maintenance of high standards and integrity.
Moreover, the President insisted that his government has never played any role of a clearing agent and that almost all allegations of corruption under him have been investigated and dealt with by the constitutionally mandated bodies including the recent one involving the former Sanitation minister.
To this, President Akuffo-Addo reiterated that his government is the only one that has taken the boldest decision in the fight against corruption in this Republic by its appointment of the independent Special Prosecutor.
Finally, he also touched on the fight against corruption in the Public Service noting that the existing legislation is inadequate to deal with the canker and hoped that the soon-to-be-drafted Code of Public Officer will strengthen the punishment regime for those found culpable.
