Justice Yonny Kulendi
THE JUDICIAL Service of Ghana has indicated that it is “willing and happy to be criticized” by journalists, but said they should be “circumspect” in their criticisms.
Speaking at a joint press conference by the Judicial Service and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) yesterday at the forecourt of the Supreme Court in Accra, a Supreme Court judge, Justice Yonny Kulendi, speaking on behalf of the Chief Justice stated that, “His Lordship has said as trustees of the people’s power of justice, we are willing and happy to be criticized. Criticize us as violently as you can but don’t insult us, don’t berate us, don’t speak hatred and don’t malign us.”
This comes after the media and sections of the public reacted to a statement by the Supreme Court, through its lawyers, ordering all media houses to “pull or cause to be pulled down and cleared from your platforms, all statements and speeches which convey and/or insinuate hateful, spiteful, vengeful and incendiary communication against Justices of our client [the Supreme Court], especially those hearing the election petition and prevent the publication of such statements and speeches on your platforms.”
President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Dr. Roland Affail Monney, reacting to the statement, had strongly registered the aversion of the media to the statement, describing it as “scandalous.”
“The GJA is dumbstruck in reading this obnoxious directive pregnant with insidious threats to media freedom in Ghana,” he remarked earlier.
Press Conference
However, Justice Kulendi noted that the Judicial Service was a human institution with “our own imperfections,” but its commitment to the country and people was “unimpeachable.”
“And so by all means, criticize us because you are the owners of the process. We are just trustees and agents but let’s be circumspect about vile, improper and unfortunate speeches,” he intimated.
According to him, the Chief Justice is “counting on you (the media) to be constructive, independent and critical even as we as judges intend against all odds to be independent and true to our oaths.”
Petition Judgment
Speaking on the much anticipated judgment on the 2020 Election Petition set for today, Justice Kulendi said, “We are at a watershed and the court will speak tomorrow (today). When the judges speak, that’s the end of our role. It’s not our place to get into studios to debate or run commentaries. The responsibility falls on you to take the information out.”
He said that a lot of a country’s development depends on the professional circumspection, introspection, reflection and care that its media brings to bear in their role as the anchor that takes information out.
“You will have to take this phase of your responsibility very seriously. It’s as important as the role you have performed in transmitting the proceedings all this while; because at the end of the day, the Ghanaian people own the process and it’s important that they understand what went on.
“And when the judges speak, irrespective of our preferences, likes and dislikes, by the rules of engagement, when the referee blows the whistle, the knots fall where they fall. And so let us be constructive and proactive,” he advised.
The GJA President, Dr. Monney, on his part, entreated media practitioners to uphold a high sense of professionalism in their reportage of the judgment.
By Nii Adjei Mensahfio