Inclined judiciary comment: Akufo-Addo jabs Mahama

President Nana Akufo-Addo has criticised former President and NDC flagbearer John Mahama over recent comments the latter made that the ruling administration has packed the judiciary with judges biased towards it.

Speaking at the Bar Conference in Cape Coast on Monday, September 11, 2023, President Akufo-Addo asserted that the notion of NPP and NDC judges in our judicial system is unusual and sets a dangerous precedent for the country’s democracy.

“Not only are these concepts of “NPP” and “NDC” judges new in our public discourse, they are also extremely dangerous and represent the most brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary by any allegedly responsible politician of the 4th Republic.”

President Nana Addo rebuked Mr. Mahama for having no authority to criticize the judiciary, making special reference to the Airbus scandal, which is still pending before the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

He further charged Ghanaians not to give Mahama the nod as President in the 2024 elections.

“They [categorization of judges into NPP and NDC] provide another reason, if more were needed, why right-thinking citizens should ensure the defeat in 2024 of the man whom the first Special Prosecutor identified as Government Official No. 1 in the still unresolved Airbus Bribery Scandal,” the president charged.

Earlier this month, Mr. Mahama accused the Akufo-Addo-led administration of packing the higher courts with judges who are members of the NPP while blocking entry for those who are not in agreement with the government.

“Currently, the judiciary is packed with NPP-inclined judges because this government has carried out a deliberate policy of putting their people onto the bench,” he complained.