- The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame has said a recent petition of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth is hypocritical, misleading and an attempt to run away from justice.
Kwame Jantuah, a private legal practitioner has said he was taken aback by the decision of Ghana’s largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to petition the Commonwealth Secretariat over happenings in the country.
According to him, the NDC could have used the Ghanaian parliamentary process to make their grievances known.
“I don’t think we’ve got to that stage where we should invite institutions like the Commonwealth in. It … did take me by surprise when I heard what the NDC had done … Because I asked myself, is this really necessary?
“…If there’s a challenge, is this really necessary? But that is the way they feel they can bring attention. I think really, for me, it wasn’t necessary but the NDC being the NDC, they feel that it is something that needs to be done.
“…They feel that their members who have been put before the court are not being treated well. They feel that as a political party, the onus is on them to outline some of the ills they feel the case is taking. Let’s see where it goes but I doubt the Commonwealth Secretariat will come into this case,” he added.
NDC petitions Commonwealth
Earlier this week, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) petitioned the Commonwealth Secretariat in the UK over what it called human rights violations, criminal persecutions and harassment of its members.
Addressing the media in Accra on Monday (28 February), the general secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said the judiciary is being used by the Akufo-Addo-led government to harass its members and fears most of the cases against NDC officials will not go in their favour.
The NDC has, therefore, petitioned the Commonwealth to bring a team of investigators and lawyers to assess the adequacy and quality of the justice being administered to its members.
Attempt to run away from justice
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame has said a recent petition of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth is hypocritical, misleading and an attempt to run away from justice.
The Attorney General told journalists on 1 March that he finds the petition to be a “hypocritical and misleading statement”.
“Clearly, for me, it is an attempt to run away from justice. All that government has sort to do is to ensure that the NDC and the acts of its officers are brought to book” the Attorney General said.
“Indeed, I will not be deterred at all in my quest to ensure that there is accountability to the people of Ghana”.
Nichola Brown
Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
99.5 in Accra, 90.7 in Ho, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 89.5 in Tarkwa, 100.3 in Cape Coast and 106.9 in Walewale
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand
