Judiciary in Bed with the Executive: Is the Independence of Ghana’s Judiciary at Stake?

Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aspiring National Communications Officer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has taken aim at Ghana's judiciary, accusing it of becoming too close to the executive and warning that public confidence in the justice system is being eroded. He made these comments on JoyNews' PM Express on Tuesday, August 3, as the party prepares for a planned protest on Thursday, August 6.

Growing Concerns Over Judicial Independence

The NPP's planned demonstration comes amid heightened political tensions over the handling of high-profile criminal prosecutions and growing public debate over the independence of Ghana's judiciary. According to Mr. Aboagye, the concerns extend beyond individual cases and reflect a broader perception that the judiciary is no longer keeping the necessary distance from political power.

He pointed to what he described as the judiciary's visible proximity to government officials, saying, "I felt uncomfortable that you are looking too close. The proximity within which you seem to be moving around with these people—it's becoming too blatant, and it makes those of us who are obviously not liked by these people uncomfortable." He added, "Because I get worried that these people don't like me… if you are this way with them, and I have an issue, they probably have your ears. I don't. How safe am I?"

Selective Justice and the Application of the Law

Mr. Aboagye also accused the judiciary of selective justice, pointing to the handling of criminal cases during the legal vacation. He argued that it is "no way… you have a lot of cases in the court, a lot of criminal cases, a lot of civil cases. Some of them predate even 2020… This year, you are going on legal vacation. You say that even though all of you are being tried in criminal cases, I have selected a few of you, and as for you, you can't go and rest. You must go through the criminal procedure. That is selective justice."

A Call for Judicial Independence

The NPP's planned demonstration is intended to send a message about the need to preserve judicial independence. Mr. Aboagye said the protest was driven by growing concerns over what he described as the judiciary's relationship with the government and what he called the selective application of justice. He maintained that his worries had not been fully resolved, saying, "I am of the view that we need to keep our judiciary very far away from our politics, far, far, far away from our politics."

A Letter to the Chief Justice

Mr. Aboagye revealed that about a month ago, he wrote to the Chief Justice to express his concerns. He itemized his worries in the letter, saying, "where I itemised my worry about his relationship and his romance with the executive, and the fact that it's becoming too glaring." Although he did not receive a direct response from the Chief Justice, the Judicial Secretary later issued a statement addressing some of the concerns he had raised.

The Way Forward

The NPP's planned demonstration comes at a time when public confidence in the justice system is being tested. The party's leaders say the protest is intended to demand fairness, equal treatment before the law, and greater public confidence in the justice system. As the country watches, the question remains: can Ghana's judiciary restore its independence and win back the trust of the public?

Source: Joy Online