A Communications member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Edudzi Tamakloe, has stated that Dormaahene, Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, merely made an appeal in his comments regarding the trial of the Assin North Member of Parliament (MP), James Gyakye Quayson.
Tamakloe finds it perplexing that such comments have drawn severe criticism.
“Were we not in this country when we saw the Okyenhene, Amoatia leading a group of chiefs in the Eastern because they said their roads were bad? It’s an appeal, beyond the appeal what else did he (Dormaahene) do?
“Did he say I am directing, I am instructing? No, he said, I am appealing to the President and the Attorney General that if he pleases them, they should file a nolle prosequi and discontinue this matter. What else has the chief said?” he quizzed.
According to Edudzi Tamakloe, the chief, who also serves as a High Court judge, made a harmless appeal that did not involve any attacks on the judicial system.
“He did not attack Godfred Dame, he didn’t attack the president. Compare that to the reckless and irresponsible commentary by Mr Akufo-Addo in Assin-North. Look he went to a church of Pentecost in Assin North, in a very highly prejudicial manner inciting the people and the court against Gyakye Quayson. It didn’t end there, he went to Assin Bereku Park and repeated those irresponsible highly prejudicial comments again.
“The president is a lawyer he knows that he is the appointing authority of the judge. He knows that the judge has taken a judicial oath to do justice to all manner of persons without being woe. But he was deliberate, very intentional and seeking to incite the court against the person of Gyakye Quayson,” he said.
Responding to the chief’s appeal, Attorney General Godfred Dame expressed concerns that such remarks could impact the fair adjudication of the case. He emphasized that any comment undermining the administration of justice is detrimental and should not be accepted.
Various prominent individuals have also shared their opinions on the ongoing trial, including President Nana Akufo-Addo, who advised Assin North constituents against voting for Mr Quayson due to the potential risk of imprisonment.