If our society believes in sustaining democracy and its pillars which include the rule of law, then the bulwark of good governance must be protected by every Tom, Dick and Harry.
On January 7, 1993, most Ghanaians heaved a sigh of relief that the iron-handed rule of man was going to be replaced by the rule of law.
In retrospect, the judiciary that ensures that the rule of law prevails and justice is delivered without fear or favour has done its best to interpret the constitution to remove any lingering doubts about our laws.
Remember the landmark ruling that stopped the official celebration of the 31st December, 1981 coup and the apex court’s ruling that the President of the Republic has no power to appoint the governing board and chief executives of state-owned media houses, and that the constitution reserves such power in the hands of the National Media Commission. We do not underrate attempts by some people to seek interpretation to certain provisions in the constitution, no matter how illogical such actions might appear, because they help to set the records straight and enhance the conduct of public business.
Some of these tough decisions have been met with the bastardisation of our judges, which does not augur well for building a free society in which the right of everybody is guaranteed under the law.
It appears former President Mahama and his NDC have issues with the judiciary, but what is really their problem?
When they lose cases then the judges are in the pocket of President Akufo-Addo and his government, but yesterday they were in very jubilant mood when the high court judge reversed its order to Gyakye Quayson to appear in court every day.
Mr. Amaliba, who spared no time to call judges names, described the judge in superlative terms.
We have said before that when we want to take on Mr. Mahama, we always hit a roadblock because he was once the soul of the country. Nonetheless, we are unable to restrain ourselves because former President Mahama will descend into the gutter and smear all decent people with the mud. Anytime he had the opportunity to canvass for his candidate Gyakye Quayson, he had no message for the people except to attack the judiciary and the NPP government.
Mr. Mahama is reported to have said that Gyakye Quayson had done nothing wrong to be stripped of his membership of Parliament and dragged to court to face criminal charges. He added that he will not go to court today or tomorrow. By such reaction, he has turned himself into a judge in his own case, describing the case as “nkwasiasem.”
We wonder whether Mahama has so soon forgotten his response to former President Kufuor when Mr. Kennedy Agyapong was arraigned in 2012 on treason charge. If he has forgotten, we remind him that when Mr. Kufuor said why try to kill a mosquito with a sledge hammer, he said he will go after him with a bulldozer.
Quite insulting of a former colleague President exposing Mahama as someone who does not understand how to communicate.
If he was well versed in communication skills, he won’t tell Kumasi people that even if he constructed their roads with gold they won’t see. Quite cheeky.
Strangely you find some notable people who can’t hide their party colours talk like Mr. Mahama. Justice Douse, a former Court of Appeal judge, has joined the chorus of those describing the ruling on Gyakye Quayson by the Supreme Court as a travesty of justice. In order to keep your reputation as a retired justice read the judgment and better inform yourself, especially on the requirements for filing documents with the Electoral Commission (EC) to contest election as an MP.
Justice Douse are you aware that after Gyakye Quayson lied to the EC that he did not hold dual citizenship he travelled with a Canadian passport? The fact will be known soon.
Mr. Mahama should be serious with Ghanaians and tell them why he must be voted for to become President again after his abysmal performance from 2012 to 2016 when he supervised dumsor that collapsed the economy. We urge Ghanaians to be wary of Mahama and his NDC. The alternative he is offering so far does not look convincing but very scary indeed.