Law lecturer at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School, Justice Abdulai, has lauded Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s application to the Chief Justice to get the remaining trial involving the ambulance case telecast live.
He has explained that the proceedings being opened to the public “would be very important and shape the thoughts of onlookers going forward in this matter”, indicating that leaving the discussion “to the NPP and the NDC have literally downplayed the importance of this whole issue.”
This comes after the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who is being tried, made this request to the Chief Justice. Dr. Ato Forson’s request was detailed in a letter from his lawyers to the Chief Justice on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
The NDC legislator explained in a social media post that recent allegations of misconduct against the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, prompted this move.
Adding to the calls from various groups and individuals, the private legal practitioner says the Attorney-General should be questioned over the allegations and be sacked if he is not willing to resign.
Lawyer Abdulai was speaking with Alfred Ocansey on TV3 on Ghana Tonight Thursday, May 30, 2024, when he made the comments.
“I think the response from the A-G and then the application for the proceedings to be telecasted and broadcasted live would, for us, be very important and shape the thoughts of onlookers going forward in this matter, because, I think, leaving the discussions to the NPP and the NDC have literally downplayed the importance of this whole issue.
“I was of the opinion that the misconduct of the Attorney-General in this light ought to be questioned and [be] dismissed [if he] is not willing to resign. Indeed, I have always supported that opinion,” he stated.
According to Justice Abdulai, his call for Mr. Dame’s dismissal stems from how esteemed the Office of the Attorney-General is, being the only ministerial position stated in the Constitution.
“…because I do not hold the office of the Attorney-General, in fact, it’s not comparable to any other office within the governance structure. Indeed, some people would say that it is one of the few, or if not the only, office that is literally mentioned in the Constitution. It tells you the importance of this particular office and so a holder of that office has a lot of respect, quite ought to assume that level of decorum and good manners and ethical conduct. I’m not saying that he should live beyond reproach, but naturally he should be able to live the kind of life that all of us should look at him with that level of reverence that the office deserves,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Attorney-General says it is unfazed by the request for a live telecast of the controversial ambulance case.
Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, speaking on Joy FM Thursday, May 30, indicated his office will not protest any such development.
He noted that the Office of the Attorney-General believes in accountability and therefore “if the Chief Justice in her wisdom decides that this matter should be live, we have no objection to same.”
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