Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has alleged that Ghana’s judiciary has consistently ruled against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the past 32 years, suggesting an inherent bias in the country’s legal system.
Speaking on Channel One TV, Kwakye Ofosu argued that court decisions dating back to the era of former President Jerry John Rawlings indicate a pattern of unfair treatment towards the NDC.
“The Chief Justice is not at the beck and call of the President. She is the head of an independent institution. However, I have my views, and I don’t think they’ve been fair to the NDC. For 32 years, they have consistently ruled against us,” he stated.
He pointed to historical cases, including rulings against the June 4th and 31st December anniversaries and the legal challenge by J.H. Mensah over ministerial vetting, all of which the NDC lost.
Judicial inconsistencies under the NPP government
Kwakye Ofosu also highlighted what he described as discrepancies in the judiciary’s handling of cases under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government. He accused the courts of fast-tracking cases filed by NPP members while delaying those from the NDC.
“It was possible for Afenyo-Markin to file a case in court and have it heard within twelve hours. Yet, the minority’s case against the passage of the E-Levy has been pending for three years,” he lamented.
He further criticized former Attorney General Godfred Dame for allegedly manipulating judicial proceedings, citing an instance where a judge was replaced in a case involving the NPP, while similar requests from NDC-affiliated individuals, such as Dr. Stephen Opuni, were denied.
Kwakye Ofosu also pointed to discrepancies in contempt cases, particularly comparing the treatment of Kennedy Agyapong and the Montie Three.
“A judge who held Kennedy Agyapong in contempt was changed because it was said that the contempt was directed at him. Yet, in the Montie Three case, the same judges who were allegedly disrespected were the ones sitting in judgment,” he remarked.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu insisted that the NDC must demand fairness from the judiciary, stressing that justice should not be influenced by political affiliations.
“The inconsistency, the unfairness, the imbalance is manifest. That is a position I hold to this day. We need to insist on fairness and balance. While historical reasons may have created an antipathy towards the NDC, justice should not be dispensed based on political perception, ” he concluded.
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