Government assures security of Judges following threats

Deputy Interior Minister, James Agalga, says the state will move swiftly to beef up the security of Supreme Court and High Court judges, if the need arises.

His assurance is in reaction to threatening statements against the judges of the apex court and the High Court recently by panelists on an Accra-based local language radio station.

“The security of our judges, and all those who work in the Judiciary, we place a lot of premium on their security. We will not allow anybody to resort to any conduct which will compromise the security of our Justices,” said the Deputy Interior Minister on Newsfile on Joy FM and the Joy News channel on Multi TV, Saturday.

During a political current affairs programme on Muntie FM, two panelists, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn reportedly made threats of harm and death against the judges.

While Alistair has come out to apologise and retract his comments, Godwin – who is a member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) communication team – has denied making threatening comments on the judges.

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) have both condemned the alleged threats against members of the bench. The GBA wants the security agencies to arrest and prosecute the two panelists for their comments.http://ghanapoliticsonline.com

The MFWA says the comments, which was made on June 30, 2016, the 34 annivesary of the Matyr’s Day anniversary, was unnecessary unprovoked.

Matyr’s Day is marked every year in memory of the abduction and murder on June 30,1982 of the late Mr Justice Fred Poku Sarkodee, Mrs Justice Cecilia Koranteng- Addow and Mr Justice Kwadwo Agyei- Agyepong.

Speaking on Newsfile, Mr Agalga said an apology from one of the alleged commentators notwithstanding, the security of the judges is key to the state, assuring that government will go all lengths to protect it.

“They [Judges] owe their position to the Constitution. The Constitution itself sets up the Judiciary and makes then independent to adjudicate over disputes that people will bring before them,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, Joy News has learned that contempt charges will be brought against the panelists, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn on Monday July 4, 2016.