Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has criticized former President John Dramani Mahama’s recent accusations against President Akufo-Addo, where he claimed that the judiciary was being filled with judges affiliated with the NPP. Akuffo deemed Mahama’s remarks unnecessary and potentially harmful to the judiciary’s integrity.
Speaking at the third annual lawyers’ conference of the NDC in Akosombo, Mahama accused the NPP of stacking the courts with judges aligned with their party. He suggested that NDC lawyers should prepare to be appointed to the bench to restore balance if the NDC wins the 2024 elections.
In response, former Chief Justice Akuffo, in an interview with Asaase Radio, questioned whether Mahama’s own appointments during his tenure were based on political affiliation. She emphasized the importance of avoiding such labels, as they can create undue pressure within the judiciary.
President Akufo-Addo also criticized Mahama’s comments during a speech at the Bar Conference in Cape Coast, calling them “very dangerous” and a “brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary.”
The GBA shared Akufo-Addo’s concerns about judicial independence but disagreed with his methods, stating that respecting the rule of law and the separation of powers by all politicians, regardless of party affiliation, is the best way to safeguard the judiciary’s independence.
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