The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has alleged that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has conspired with the Judicial Council to unjustifiably victimise the Omanhene of Dormaa, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, who is sitting judge.
According to the party, it has been reliably informed that Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, who is the Paramount Chief of the Dormaa Traditional Area, was being persecuted by the Judicial Council.
A statement signed and issued by the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, indicated that the supposed persecution followed a public statement that the chief recently made in his capacity as a traditional ruler.
Comments by the revered chief
It would be recalled that at an event organised by the John Evans Atta Mills Heritage in Sunyani recently, the chief passionately appeal to the Attorney-General to consider entering a nolle prosequi in the case, The Republic versus James Gyakye Quayson.
His call was in the light of the overwhelming endorsement that Mr Quayson received in the recently held by-election at the Assin North Constituency, following his removal from parliament by the Supreme Court’s order.
NDC’s position on the comment
According to the NDC, the revered Dormaahene, like all Chiefs in this country, has a responsibility and right to speak on matters of public interest and to call on duty bearers to act in a manner that ensures societal cohesion and development.
“This is certainly not the first time that a Chief in Ghana has commented on an issue of public interest or made an appeal to the government or a Public Servant to exercise his/her discretion in a particular manner”, the statement added.
The statement, signed by Mr Kwetey, emphatically stated that the comment by “the Dormaahene did not in any way prejudice any case pending before any Court”.
He added that the comment also did not “breach any Code of Conduct of Judges, as the comment related to the exercise of discretion by the Attorney General and not the Court”.
Hauling of Osagyefo Agyeman Badu II before Judicial Council Committee
The NDC alleged that the revered chief, who is also a Justice of the High Court “was recently hauled before a Committee, constituted by the Judicial Council and Chaired by the Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkonoo”.
This alleged action by the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council, according to the NDC, constituted a brazen attack on the revered Chieftaincy Institution and must be condemned by all lovers of democracy.
Additionally, the party said the action was part of a continual avalanche of coordinated attacks and disparaging remarks made by some stalwarts of the ruling NPP, since the chief expressed his views.
The party specifically mentioned the Minister for Trade and Industry, K.T Hammond, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, as well as leading Member of the General Legal Council, Sam Okudzeto, as individuals who have allegedly used unprintable words on the chief.
The statement clearly indicated that the Judiciary cannot seek to elevate itself above the Constitution and punish chiefs for voicing their concerns on issues of public interest.
“We, therefore, wish to caution the Judicial Council not to allow itself to be used by the government to re-introduce a culture of silence in Ghana”. It added
The party pleaded with the Judiciary to respect the rights of citizens to free speech, as guaranteed by the 1992 Constitution which is the supreme law of the land.
Should the alleged persecution continue, the party warned that it would collaborate with other progressive forces and defenders of democracy to embark on a series of public manifestations to protest what it termed as “creeping culture of judicial tyranny”.
