[ 2016-10-26 ]

Justice Dotse condemns attacks on Judges
A Justice of the Supreme Court has condemned
intimidating attacks on judges and their families
many years after the judge had ruled on a case.

According to Justice Victor Jones Dotse, the
attacks which sometimes border on criminality has
come from both the opposition and sitting
government agents under both civilian and military
regimes.

The Supreme Court Judge was speaking at the
9thAnnual Chief Justice Forum in Accra on the
theme: “The judiciary and Election 2016
attributed the over politicisation of the
Judiciary.”

The forum, which attracted leaders of state in
institutions and members from civil society
organisation aimed at educating stakeholders on
laws and legal provision governing elections and
sensitising the gathering on the reviewed Election
Adjudication Manual.

According to the Justice Dotse, CSOs and the
Ghanaians must protect judges as it is rear for
judges to defend to defend themselves.

He expressed happiness with the way and manner
some judges are sometimes also victimised as they
adjudicate matters noting it is only members of
the Ghana Bar Association and orthodox churches
who sometimes console them.

Mr Justice Dotse, the Chairman of Election
Committee of the Judiciary urged all political
parties to accept decisions of electoral disputes
with a good heart as it was done by Nana Addo
Danquah Akufo Addo of the New Patriotic Party
(NPP).

He commended judges who had sat over cases with
clear conscience saying they remain bold and
courageous men and women who were needed in the
country in upholding the rule of law.

The Supreme Court Judge told the gathering not see
him as someone who did not like the judiciary to
be criticised.

According to him the post 2012 Election Petition
had brought about key reforms in electoral laws,
adding that those reforms had been embodied into
CI 91 and 95 and has become part of the Supreme
Court Amendment Rules.

He called for enabling environment for judges to
carry out their duties and respect for court by
institutions in the country.

Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, Chief Executive Officer,
Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG),
recounted that international interest in Ghana’s
democracy was high as country goes to the Polls.

According to Dr Akwetey, he believed Ghana has the
capacity to undergo its seventh elections through
its leaders successfully.

He was, however, not happy with some turbulence
associated with three of Ghana’s Elections in
relation to the two main parties in the country.

Dr Akwetey noted that if electoral laws were not
enforced that could lead to anarchy in the
country.

The CEO of IDEG noted that currently people had
become more concerned with electoral justice as
some persons were not satisfied with “the
system.”

He, therefore, called for more radical approach
especially issues boarding on constitutional
matters and engage of political parties in
dialogues to avert any civil unrest.

According to him, anxiety had also been associated
with this year’s polls and called on the Supreme
Court to educate the public on clean elections and
zero tolerance for “dirty elections. “

“The Supreme Court considering the powers it has
should also compel political parties to remain
committed to peace pacts signed by them,” he
added.

Source - Joyfm

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