The Ghana Bar Association (GBA), has admonished\u00a0Ghanaians against the use of social media to attack judges of the country’s courts.<\/p>\n
The GBA says although it is \u00a0not against the use of that medium in objectively criticizing the work of judges, abusing judges\u00a0on the bench with the aim of inciting public disaffection for them is unacceptable.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, social media has become a popular platform to mount intense attacks on our judges. While citizens have the right to take on judgments of the courts, it is absolutely unacceptable for those criticisms to be rendered in sensational and purely abusive manner with the primary aim of inciting public disaffection for our judges and undermine the integrity of the judicial system,\u201d President of the GBA said.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”XyrnrTV8RuOMydfMOUFhNhUQ5kIuyhCp”]Speaking at the 34th martyrs day celebration at the Christ the King parish, the GBA President, Benson Nutsukpui urged citizens to ensure that the integrity of the judicial system is not compromised.<\/p>\n
He also called on the public to uphold the tenets of rule of law before, during and after the 2016 elections.<\/p>\n
“It is my hope that we rededicate ourselves to the ideals of rule of law which we so gallantly uphold. As we approach the 2016 parliamentary and presidential elections, I cannot but encourage citizens, public and state institutions to recommit themselves to the ideals of rule of law thereby ensuring that the upcoming elections takes place in an orderly and peaceful environment,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
In recent times, several Ghanaians have questioned the integrity and fairness of the judicial system, following a corruption scandal that hit the judicial service, through the work of investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.<\/p>\n
Several lower and High Court judges who were found guilty of collecting bribes to influence cases, have since been sacked as the investigations continue.<\/p>\n
Supreme Court judges may vote on party lines<\/strong><\/p>\n The caution by the GBA President \u00a0also comes at a time when a widely circulated piece written by\u00a0respected former Law Lecturer, Raymond Atuguba, suggested that Supreme Court Judges sometimes decide cases based on their political affiliations<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n Dr. Atuguba further urged Ghanaians to be \u201cwatchful\u201d to prevent Justices sitting on Abu Ramada\u2019s latest case against the Electoral Commission from deciding the matter based on partisan lines.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Godwin A. Allotey\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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