Former President Mahama Accuses Government of Appointing Cronies to Judiciary
Former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has leveled serious allegations against the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, accusing it of appointing individuals loyal to the ruling party to key positions within the judiciary.
In a speech delivered at the closing ceremony of the 3rd Annual Lawyers Conference of the NDC, Mahama asserted that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been deliberately appointing judges with affiliations to the NPP to serve on the bench. According to him, this calculated move is aimed at ensuring that when President Akufo-Addo leaves office, he will have a judiciary that is predisposed to favor his interests, thus avoiding accountability for any actions taken during his tenure.
Mahama’s claims center on what he perceives as an excessive number of judges being appointed under the current administration, which he alleges is disproportionately favoring NPP-linked individuals. He stated, “He has appointed the biggest number of judges onto the bench, it is more than 80 towards 100 and counting. You can see what the current president has done. He has packed the court, and we know they have packed the court because they want to avoid accountability after they have left office.”
In response to this situation, Mahama called on members of the NDC with legal backgrounds to consider pursuing careers within the judiciary. He believes that this would be a means to “balance out” the composition of the judiciary and ensure that it remains impartial and free from political bias.
Mahama’s allegations have sparked debate and raised concerns about the independence and integrity of Ghana’s judiciary. The appointment of judges is typically seen as a crucial aspect of maintaining the separation of powers in a democratic system, with an impartial judiciary playing a vital role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all citizens.
As Ghana approaches its next elections, discussions surrounding the alleged politicization of key institutions, including the judiciary, are likely to remain at the forefront of public discourse. These discussions will undoubtedly have an impact on the broader political landscape as the country navigates its democratic processes.
