The General Secretary of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah has dismissed suggestions that one of the President’s nominees to the Supreme Court, Gabriel Pwamang will be politically biased in the discharge of his duties.
[contextly_sidebar id=”TQSKVMXgneDosHpAg8Dsv1BlIF1TC388″]President John Mahama on Tuesday nominated Mr Pwamang, a private legal practitioner and former PNC General Secretary to occupy a seat at the Supreme Court.
A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Otchere Darko has expressed worry over his nomination, citing the political ideology of Mr Pwamang as a cause for concern.
But the Majority leader in Parliament, Alban Bagbin defended the appointment with the explanation that Mr. Pwamang’s experiences are needed in Ghana’s justice system adding that “governance is about the arms working together, and for you to work together in harmony you must understand what is at stake and you must all try to build consensus around a vision.”
Bernard Mornah however told Citi News, such arguments are disingenuous to say the least.
He argued that it does not take ones political biases to become a Judge but rather, “it takes to your belonging – whether you are a naturalist, a realist or whether you are a positivist and those are the things that inform the character of a Judge.”
Mornah said he was sure “Mr. Pwamang having been at the Bar for several years is well clothed with what it should take to become a Judge.”
He stressed that Mr. Pwamang will in no way “allow his political persuasions or pursuits to influence the judgment that he would have to make.”
On his part, the General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Ivor Greenstreet also discounted the argument of Mr Pwamang being potentially biased in the performance of his duties.
He pointed out that such appointments are not made in a rush and neither does the President make such appointments in isolation.
“These are done after extensive consultation and engagements with many persons and institutions so I believe that it was after much consideration to have Mr. Pwamang as worthy of the appointment,” he said.
Greenstreet added that certainly, Mr. Pwamang “has been on good standing for more than 15 years so that is what makes him eligible.”
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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