‘If the Judiciary loses its legs Ghana has lost its legs and there will be no country’ – Ivan Kyei Innocent
The sacrosanct Judicial arm of government has come under scrutiny in recent times regarding some of the judgments it has made. Several people have criticized its posture toward issues that previously were not the case.
Social commentator Ivan Kyei Innocent during a discussion about the judiciary on the Active Morning Show with Agyenima-Boateng Adjaye pointed out how “we have come a long way and we constantly as Ghanaians have to remind ourselves of that[referring to Ghana’s democracy”.
He opined that with how the Executive and legislature have suffered from our polarized political state “the judiciary cannot tow that line since that is where people have some confidence in despite your political inclination so under no circumstance should people have a shred of doubt about the judiciary towing a particular line”.
He added that “the moment that happens you create disorder which will breed some disunity”.
The vociferous commentator pointed out that in the case of the United States judges it is the conservative nature and philosophical underpins on issues that make them biased sometimes and not political where they will see as doing the bidding of the government that put them there.
“Unfortunately for us, we have pushed the judiciary to the realm where they have gained notoriety in the public for some rulings where people no longer have confidence in the judiciary,” and he believes it started when the government started promoting some judges to the supreme court.
He touched on the number of judges that are appointed to the Supreme court, noting that “We have to do something about the promotion of judges to the supreme court. In the United States the supreme court judges are only nine”.
He then admonished the judges to build confidence in the judiciary and not make themselves an appendage of power.
Mr Kyei cited the judgement that said deputy speakers of parliament while presiding can vote on issues, a decision that caused significant uproar and deflated people’s confidence in the judiciary.
Regarding the recent advice by the National Security Minister to the Judges, he said it was a tough statement you will not expect and bemoaned how the opposition party vowed not to go to the Apex court after an election but rather resolve issues at the polling station is a serious matter “which points to the broken reputation of the judiciary and that public confidence in the judiciary is weaning that is what the minister sought to warn them about”.
Mr Kyei Innocent feared the worst could happen where it will get to a point this long-held perception about the court could lead to people not respecting the ruling of the apex court and said “it is dangerous we cannot lose it and if the Judiciary loses its legs Ghana has lost its legs and there will be no country.
