Senior Vice President at IMANI-Africa, Kofi Bentil says the observation made by former President, John Mahama on the judiciary is commendable.
According to the lawyer, although the comment was politicised, the observation the former president raised has a possibility of happening therefore, he did no wrong in asking the questions he did.
Speaking in a discussion on JoyNews’ Newsfile, the lawyer stated, “It is also okay for the politicians to have worries. And as far as I'm concerned, the observation or the statement that former President Mahama made was proper. It was necessary for a person of his standing seeking to become president to make that observation and ask the kinds of questions he asked.
“Nobody should hold it against him when he suggests that this may be a problem. Of course, if you put the political spin on it, it says that the opponent or the other party is appointing judges who believe in their political whatever, and therefore, for me, I think it's a matter of concern, you don't expect that they will appoint people who believe in your politics, who belong to your political persuasion. So for me, that is not a problem.”
Despite his earlier remark, Mr Bentil also vouched that although members of the judiciary have political parties they prefer and are allowed to vote, most of them “rise above the fray” and dispense their duties according to the law and evidence.
Notwithstanding his assertion, the lawyer emphasised the need for the nation to get to a point that regardless of the political affiliation of a judge, they will continue to rule according to the law and the evidence before them, irrespective of the position they will be appointed to take.
Furthermore, he advised that judges also demonstrate to Ghanaians that irrespective of their political affiliation, their judgments will be void of bias.
Mr Bentil said he was confident the judges were capable of doing that.
His assertion comes after President Akufo-Addo condemned comments made by the flagbearer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for election 2024.
Mr. Mahama, during the third annual lawyers' conference of the NDC in Akosombo, made allegations that the New Patriotic Party had filled the courts with its party members.
He then suggested that lawyers affiliated with the NDC should get ready to be appointed to the bench to restore balance if the NDC wins the 2024 elections.
It is these comments, that President Akufo-Addo described as a "very dangerous" and a "brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary.
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