Alexander Afenyo Markin, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has warned the Minority caucus to cease being picky about how they honor the nation’s courts.
The judiciary has been praised by National Democratic Congress (NDC) members of parliament after its leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who was on trial in a 2.37 million Euro accident case, was found not guilty and was released from prison.
In a 2-1 majority verdict on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, a panel of three declared that Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe’s decision on March 30, 2023, regarding the filing of no case to answer, allowing the accused to begin their defense, was incorrect.
The plea was accepted, and Justices Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo and Philip Bright Mensah cleared and released the accused, while Justice Poku Acheampong the presiding judge dismissed their request.
But reacting to the jubilation by the Minority caucus, the Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo Markin urged the NDC MPs to be consistent in celebrating the judiciary, not only when it decisions made by the judicial arm of government favours them.
“I want to say that it is a day to celebrate the judiciary, except that Mr Speaker we have to be very consistent as a political class in our celebration of the judiciary. I agree with the position taken by Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, no executive arm of government can manipulate the Judicial arm of the realm. Mr Speaker, it must never be said that the Judiciary is under the control of the executive. Mr Speaker, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu is a courtroom practitioner just as I am. One of things we were taught at the bar is to accept the decision of the court and when we are not happy we should go up and that is how we enrich the law. So I think that in his celebration he shouldn’t use this as a forum to attack the Attorney General who has no right of audience here.”
He added: “Mr Speaker, our friends must not be selective, they shouldn’t choose when to celebrate the judiciary and when to attack them. Mr Speaker, today, the vetting of the Supreme Court nominees came to a stand off because of mere disagreement. Dr. Forson, Hon. Buah and Agbodza you are leading the front bench of this chamber. Let us understand that there are situations where we disagree and even when we disagree the language, the approach is essential. I celebrate in your victory and you know how much it means to democracy in this country. Minority leader on trial, you’ve gone through the system. Your believe in the judicial system, today, on all fours I don’t take alcohol but I can offer you a non-alcoholic wine.”