The Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG) has condemned in no uncertain terms the behavior of the protesters in the ‘Family Values March’ at the premises of the Supreme Court while presenting a petition to the Chief Justice over delays in hearing the Ant-LGBTQ+ cases at the Apex Court.
According to the AMGJ, the conduct of the protesters led by Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram Samuel Nartey George and the insults levelled against the Judiciary and the Chief Justice left much to be desired.
President of AMJG, Justice Henry Anthony Kwofie, made this known is a press conference in Accra on Thursday October 10, 2024 to register the displeasure of judges about the actions of the protesters last Tuesday.
“The conduct of the demonstrators and their leaders and the behavior they point up and the insults levelled against the Judiciary and Her Ladyship the Chief Justice left much to be desired.
“It is worth pointing out that every court from the District Court through to the Supreme Court has a procedure that has to be followed by every litigant and no judge, not even the Chief Justice can torpedo that procedure and the Rules of Court,” Justice Kwoffie, who is also a Justice of the Supreme Court stated.
“When people who are supposed to know better seek to stampede the judiciary and attack the judiciary, it is a threat to the judicial institution and all that it stands for.
“Such conduct subverts the judicial process and ought to be condemned by all Ghanaians and to protect judges and staff of the Judicial Service.
“Such behavior by litigants in cases pending before the Courts subverts the judicial process and undermines the administration of Justice,” the President of AMJG said.
“We call on all persons, be they litigants, parties and lawyer who have cases in court to exercise restraint, show decorum and not to do anything that undermines the administration of justice and have the tendency to disrupt the peace of the country,” he urged.
Below is the full statement
PRESS STATEMENT BY JUSTICE HENRY ANTHONY KWOFIE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MAGISTRATES AND JUDGES OF GHANA (AMJG)
Demonstration in respect of the cases of:
1) DR. AMANDA ODOI VS. THE SPEAKER OF PALIAMENT & ATTORNEY GENERAL
2) RICHARD SKY Vs. PARLIAMENT OF GHANA AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, We the AMJG have invited you this morning to express our deep concerns about events happening around 2 cases pending before the Supreme Court of Ghana:
1) Dr. Amanda Odoi Vs. The Speaker of Parliament & The Attorney General
2) Richard Sky Vs Parliament of Ghana and The Attorney General.
On Monday 7th October 2024, the Registrar of the Supreme Court Her Ladyship Ellen Ofei-Ayeh issued a Press Statement and gave an update on the 2 cases.
The summary of the Registrar’s Statement was that the parties in the 2 cases had not filed the requisite processes as required by the Supreme Court Rules 1996 (C.I. 16).
Specifically in respect of Richard Sky vs. Parliament of Ghana and the Attorney General, the Registrars Statement showed clearly that there is pending before the Supreme Court an application filed on 01-10-2024 by Counsel for Parliament of Ghana (1st defendant) Motion for Extension of Time to file 1st, defendants/applicant’s statement of case.
That application is yet to be heard by the Court. In effect both cases are not ripe for hearing and the Press Release of the Supreme Court Registrar made that very clear to everyone who cared to know.
And yet inspite of this clear statement, on Tuesday 8th October, 2024, a group of people went on demonstration and sought to enter the Supreme Court premises.
Not only did these demonstrators seek to enter the supreme Court premises but shouted abuses and insults at the Judiciary and Her Ladyship the Chief Justice and demanded the judgment should be given in their favour in the LGBTQ cases.
The conduct of the demonstrators and their leaders and the behavior they point up and the insults levelled against the Judiciary and Her Ladyship the Chief Justice left much to be desired.
It is worth pointing out that every court from the District Court through to the Supreme Court has a procedure that has to be followed by every litigant and no judge, not even the Chief Justice can torpedo that procedure and the Rules of Court.
When people who are supposed to know better seek to stampede the judiciary and attack the judiciary, it is a threat to the judicial institution and all that it stands for.
Such conduct subverts the judicial process and ought to be condemned by all Ghanaians and to protect judges and staff of the Judicial Service.
Such behavior by litigants in cases pending before the Courts subverts the judicial process and undermines the administration of Justice.
We call on all persons, be they litigants, parties and lawyer who have cases in court to exercise restraint, show decorum and not to do anything that undermines the administration of justice and have the tendency to disrupt the peace of the country.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
