The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has asked the Judicial Council of Ghana to stop persecuting the Paramount Chief of the Dormaa Traditional Area, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II.
According to the party, recent summons of the paramount chief by the Judicial Council is an “expressed direction of President Akufo-Addo and his despotic NPP regime who are hellbent on having the Dormaahene punished over the harmless comment he made on the Gyakye Quayson matter.”
The NDC has been lamenting that, “the revered chief who doubles as a Justice of the High Court in Ghana’s judiciary and known in private life by the name Justice Daniel Mensah, was recently hauled before a Committee constituted by the Judicial Council and Chaired by the Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkonoo over comments he made in respect of the ongoing prosecution of the re-elected Member of Parliament for Assin North, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson.”
The John Evans Atta Mills Heritage recently organised an event in Sunyani where the “venerable Dormaahene made a passionate appeal for the country to consider amending the existing legal regime on the ineligibility of dual citizens to be elected as Members of Parliament; a matter of considerable public interest that is the subject of a Bill currently before Parliament.”
But a Franklin Fiifi Kwetey-signed statement on behalf of the NDC Tuesday, July 25, 2023, says although the chief made the comments in his capacity as a traditional ruler, government is hellbent on persecuting him for expressing his views.
“The NDC, therefore, holds the view that the attempt by the Judicial Council to victimize the Dormaahene over the said comments is totally unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, the party has asked the Judicial Council not to allow itself to be used by the Akufo-Addo government to reintroduce a culture of silence in the country.
The NDC leadership says the Council must desist from instilling a perception of the judiciary being a poodle of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The statement went on to say that the tussle that has ensued between the Judicial Council and the chief for his comments on the Gyakye Quayson criminal case is nothing but a continuation of the aspersions casted on him by NPP cohorts after his pronouncements.
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“We, therefore, wish to caution the Judicial Council not to allow itself to be used by the government to re-introduce a culture of silence in Ghana. The Council must guard against the growing perception that they are an institution that is tied to the apron string of the ruling NPP.”
“Indeed, the NDC views these actions by the Judicial Council as a continuation of the avalanche of coordinated attacks and disparaging remarks that were rained on the person of the Dormaahene by persons within the New Patriotic Party after the revered chief expressed his views.
“Notable among these attacks were threats and insulting comments made by the Minister for Trade and Industry, K.T Hammond, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu and a leading Member of the General Legal Council, Sam Okudzeto who used unprintable words on the chief and described his comments as “senseless.”, portions of the statement indicated.
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The NDC, has, however, reminded the government and the Judicial Council of the role of Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II as a traditional authority just like any other chief in the country who has the right to comment on things that bother on society.
“It must be emphasised, that the Dormaahene made the comments under reference in his capacity as a paramount Chief and for that matter, a custodian and promoter of the culture, peace, unity, stability and development of the country.
“Like all Chiefs in this country, the revered Dormaahene has a responsibility and right to speak on matters of public interest and to call on duty bearers to act in a manner that ensures societal cohesion and development,” the statement added.
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