Kofi Bentil, a senior lawyer and Vice President of IMANI Africa, has raised concerns about possible selective justice under the current government. Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, August 8, he argued that the administration's handling of prosecutions could give credence to claims of political bias.
Possible Selective Justice Under Current Government
Bentil said that those accusing the government of selective justice had sufficient grounds to make their case, while acknowledging that those who disagreed could also present arguments in defense of the government. He pointed out that the government's record over its four-year mandate would ultimately provide the strongest evidence. "This government, and by extension, this party, the NDC, will be judged after four years," he said.
Two Years into the Administration: Grounds for Concern
According to Bentil, two years into the administration, there were already grounds to argue that the government had been more aggressive in prosecuting people associated with the opposition while appearing more inclined to free or protect people within its own ranks. "To that extent, therefore, you can claim there is selective justice," he said. He emphasized that the government's actions over the remainder of its four-year term would provide the basis for assessing whether the allegations of selective justice were justified.
Protecting Democracy: A Call to Vigilance
Bentil also raised concerns about the state of Ghana's democracy, cautioning against waiting until democratic institutions and freedoms had been significantly weakened before taking action. He stressed the need for citizens to remain vigilant and work to protect and expand the democratic space. "For me, I'm not waiting for all of our democracy to be removed from under our feet, for us to fall down before we rise up," he said.
The Need for Accountability
Mr. Bentil argued that if any government or president attempted to undermine democratic principles, citizens had a responsibility to resist and demand accountability. He referred to calls for the fast-tracking of cases involving former officials of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), including the case of Wontumi matter. He maintained that the government's actions over the remainder of its four-year term would provide the strongest evidence of its commitment to democratic principles.
Conclusion
The comments by Kofi Bentil come amid concerns raised at a recent 'Democracy under attack demonstration' by the NPP over alleged selective justice and what some protesters described as threats to Ghana's democratic governance. The debate highlights the need for citizens to remain vigilant and demand accountability from their leaders. Ultimately, the strongest test of the government's commitment to justice and democratic principles will be whether similar standards of justice are applied to individuals on both sides of Ghana's political divide.
Source: Joy Online
