Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase Ayirebi and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has raised concerns about the ongoing processes to remove the Chief Justice, describing them as political and pre-planned.
In an interview on JoyNews’ AM Show on Thursday, 29 May, Mr Oppong Nkrumah emphasized that the Chief Justice would defend herself in the face of these challenges, but he stressed that the entire situation was more politically motivated than grounded in legal principles.
According to Mr Oppong Nkrumah, the notion that the process to remove the Chief Justice is solely a constitutional one under Articles 146 or 147 is misleading. He firmly believes that there are political undertones driving this agenda.
He went further to assert that the plan to oust the Chief Justice was not only politically motivated but also strategically mapped out well in advance. Mr Oppong Nkrumah contended that this was a premeditated and publicized move.
He pointed to past statements made by current President John Mahama when he was in opposition, indicating a desire to alter the composition of the judiciary. President Mahama had openly expressed intentions to appoint more members aligned with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the benches, citing a perceived bias against the party in the judiciary.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah also highlighted instances where the opposition party had openly criticized the judiciary, including the Chief Justice. He referenced the 2020 election petition and recalled the attempts to discredit the Chief Justice by linking her to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In conclusion, Mr Oppong Nkrumah cautioned that the legal proceedings surrounding the Chief Justice’s removal were being used as a guise for a political agenda. He warned against being misled by the surface appearance of a constitutional process, emphasizing that the true motives behind the actions were rooted in politics.
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