The Center for Democratic Development (CDD) has expressed concern over former President John Mahama’s statement about appointing National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawyers to the judiciary, considering it a threat to Ghana’s democracy.
Paul Aborampah Mensah, the Senior Programs Officer at CDD-Ghana, conveyed these concerns during an interview on Morning Starr with Francis Abban on September 4, 2023. He emphasized that such comments from former leaders would not contribute positively to the constitutional system.
Mensah further suggested that when politicians, especially those who have held the highest office in the country, make such statements, they might be trying to share their past experiences and the structural arrangements during their tenure.”
Background
Former President John Mahama has asserted that President Akufo-Addo’s government has strategically appointed judges within the Ghanaian courts to evade accountability once their term in office concludes. He made these remarks during the concluding session of the 3rd Lawyers Conference, organized by the NDC Lawyers Association, held in Akosombo, Eastern region.
Mahama disclosed that some of these lawyers President Akufo-Addo has leapfrogged on the bench are known political persons.“Our lawyers, some of you must be prepared to go unto the bench, I know that some of you have very lucrative legal practices you will not want to leave and go onto the bench.
Over 80, nearly a hundred, and still counting. “He’s populated the judiciary, and it’s clear they’ve done so to evade accountability once they exit office. Various individuals with a well-known partisan background, including former party executives in the legal field, have been fast-tracked into the Superior courts and other significant positions.”