Paul Twum Barimah, a Member of Parliament for the Dormaa East Constituency under the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has criticized former President John Dramani Mahama’s recent comments about the judiciary. Mahama had expressed concerns about the appointments made by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the bench, suggesting that it was an attempt to avoid accountability after leaving office.
Twum Barimah, however, argues that such criticism unfairly tarnishes the reputation of the judiciary.
He emphasizes that it’s essential to build institutions that can refine and uphold the principles of justice, regardless of the political affiliations of those appointed to the bench.
According to Twum Barimah, the focus should be on creating institutions that purify individuals from political bias once they enter the system.
He believes that institutions should be critiqued when they falter and applauded when they excel.
He further exemplifies that if Mahama appointed a renowned legal expert like Tsatsu Tsikata, no one should object based on his pedigree.
This reflects Twum Barimah’s stance that it’s not about who is appointed but rather the strength and integrity of the institution itself.
The comments by Mahama had sparked a debate about the state of the judiciary in Ghana and the need for impartiality and accountability within the legal system.