A Supreme Court Justice nominee, Kwaku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, has said that free speech must come with responsibility.
He cautioned the public that the libel law still exists, hence people should be careful about what they post, especially on social media.
Answering questions during his vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Friday, June 20, he said, “I believe in free speech, but free speech must come with responsibility…Libel laws are still applicable; let us be careful with what we put on social media.”
In a related development, the Chairman of Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, dismissed the petition filed against Justice Ackaah-Boafo, after describing it as legally baseless.
The petitioner alleged that the nominee had insulted and disrespected him during a court proceeding, reportedly calling him “arrogant” and “power drunk.” The nominee has firmly denied the claims.
But The chairman of the committee ruled that “The allegations contained in the petition—that the judge insulted and attacked the petitioner—are completely unfounded.”
“Having considered the totality of the evidence and the judgment, the Appointments Committee cannot become a substitute for the Supreme Court or the Judicial Council to review a Court of Appeal ruling or take disciplinary action,” he added
