Accra – The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has descended heavily on President Rawlings scathing attack on the judiciary, noting that the attack was calculated to undermine and intimidate the judiciary.
“The GBA recall a vitriolic attack made by President Rawlings during the decoration of a former Chief Justice Of Ghana on the judiciary and condemn the remarks as attack meant to undermine and intimidate the Judiciary”.
The statement issued on June 7, 2000 and signed by both the National President and the National Secretary, Mr. Ebow Quarshie and J. Ayikoi Otoo respectively, advised the President to invite the Chief Justice for a private discussion on matters affecting the judiciary for more sober and mature reflections on petitions and newspaper reports brought to the president’s attention.
According to the statement “it is completely nonplussed when His Excellency the President unleashes scathing attack on the judiciary for what he considers a wrong by only a judge out of a number of judges who, for all we know, are diligently performing their functions in accordance with the judicial oath of their administering justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will.
The statement reiterated that there is much that the Chief Justice, “as the head of the judiciary, can do to correct wrongs within the system when they are brought to his attention,” pointing out that there is a well laid-down appellate procedure available to persons who are aggrieved or dissatisfied with decisions of the court.
” Let us always remember that every profession or vocation has its own technical details which unless explained may sound immoral or unacceptable to those outside the profession.” The GBA concluded.
