Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aspiring National Communications Officer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has raised concerns over what he describes as selective justice in the handling of cases within Ghana's judicial system. Speaking on Joy News' PM Express on Tuesday, Mr Aboagye questioned why some criminal cases are allowed to remain in court for years while others appear to receive faster attention.
Selective Justice Concerns Grow Amid High-Profile Cases
Mr Aboagye referenced the cases involving former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedinam Tamakloe, and the incarceration of Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as part of his concerns about what he called unequal treatment. He argued that the justice system should apply the same standards to all cases before the courts.
Mr Aboagye had previously written to the Chief Justice expressing his concerns about the judiciary's closeness to the executive. He said he had itemised his worry about the relationship between the Chief Justice and the executive in his letter, which he described as becoming too glaring.
The Judiciary's Independence Under Fire
According to Mr Aboagye, the response from the Judicial Secretary provided some clarification, but he maintained that the judiciary must remain independent from political influence. He stated that the judiciary should be "very far away from our politics" and that the justice system should apply the same standards to all cases.
Mr Aboagye explained his concerns about selective justice by saying that a criminal is a criminal and that there is no way to wait for resolution in court. He questioned why some cases, including those that have been before the courts for years, continue without swift resolution, while others receive immediate attention.
Public Perception of the Judiciary's Relationship with the Executive
Mr Aboagye added that the concerns being raised by some citizens were linked to perceptions that the judiciary was becoming too close to the government. He said, "the 10s and 1000s of people you will be seeing tomorrow on the street are simply saying that the judiciary seems to be romancing with the executive and is making the executive too comfortable."
The debate over the relationship between the judiciary and the executive has been ongoing in Ghana, with some political actors raising concerns about the pace and handling of high-profile cases. Mr Aboagye's comments come amid this public debate, and his concerns about selective justice and the judiciary's independence are likely to be closely watched by the public and the government.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the judiciary will respond to Mr Aboagye's concerns and whether steps will be taken to address the perceived selective justice and closeness to the executive. The public's perception of the judiciary's relationship with the executive is likely to play a significant role in shaping the country's political landscape in the coming months.
Source: Joy Online
