rivate legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has shed light on how political loyalty and strategic maneuvering often shape the pace and outcomes of cases before Ghana’s Supreme Court.
Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints, Kpebu argued that presidents seek loyalty when making judicial appointments, pointing out that political leaders prefer to sleep soundly at night knowing how certain cases may play out if they reach the highest court of the land.
“Usually, presidents are looking for loyalty. They want to go to bed in peace, knowing that if the case comes to the Supreme Court, they are likely to win,” he said.
According to him, some cases linger unnecessarily, not because of lack of evidence, but due to calculated delays designed to serve particular interests.
He referenced his involvement in the “One Ghana Movement” case, where proceedings dragged on for years.
“The case delayed because we were winning. At a point, we were also tired. But the bottom line is, when the court wants to move, it does so swiftly. If the judges want a case completed, they have the capacity to deliver within days,” he explained.
Kpebu recalled moments when the Supreme Court demonstrated remarkable speed.
In one instance, even when the main chamber was under renovation, justices moved proceedings into another room, summoned lawyers, amended legal documents, and delivered a ruling the same day.
“That shows that when the court wants to act, it does. But when strategic reasons come in, they find excuses to delay,” he stressed.
On judicial appointments, Kpebu welcomed the nomination of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as new Chief Justice, noting that he has risen through all levels of the judiciary — from district court to high court, appeals court, and finally the Supreme Court.
He believes such broad experience should reflect positively on his administration of justice.
He also touched on recent developments in the legal fraternity, particularly the emergence of an alternative professional body to the Ghana Bar Association (GBA).
“Two days ago, he met the Law Society of Ghana, the new umbrella group. It’s a good development that we are going to have a second bar association. It’s important so that one body is not hijacked by a political party,” he said.
Kpebu welcomed the idea of multiple professional associations for lawyers, arguing that competition would ensure accountability and fairness within the legal community.
According to him, Ghana’s judiciary has the resources and expertise to dispense justice efficiently, but the real challenge lies in whether judges choose to prioritize fairness over political or strategic interests.
