Former Flagbearer aspirant for the New Patriotic Party(NPP) Dr Arthur Kennedy has weighed in on the recent backlash surrounding the Chief Justice(CJ) His Lordship Baffoe- Bonnie’s alleged partisan comments asking the Chief Justice to stay out of matters concerning the Executive.
The US based Medical Doctor is part of the growing number of people calling out the Chief Justice for his remarks.
Dr Kennedy in a two minute video told the Chief Justice to stay away from matters of the Executive, telling him his business is not to be touring State Owned Enterprises(SOEs).
The comments by the CJ which sought to praise the current Government and condemn the past NPP administration according to Dr Kennedy was misplaced.
He said the CJ was behaving like an employee of the Government.
“Mr Chief Justice, your place as Chief Justice is not to be touring State Owned Enterprises and making the remarks that you made. Indeed you sounded like an NDC official,” he said.
He then advised him to focus his lens on the institution he heads. Listing a plethora of issues the Judiciary has, the Doctor stressed fixing the problems will rather ensure the CJ leaves behind a positive legacy.
“If you are looking for things to do there are lot of things you can improve in our Judiciary. Our serpentine appellate process, prisoners who have sat in prison forever and whose dockets have been lost, Judicial corruption as has been witnessed by Afrobarometer reports, assignment of panels and other significant things that bring our Judiciary into disrepute,” he stated.
Dr Arthur Kennedy believes the CJ’s actions have soiled his and himself.
“What you did was beyond the dignity of your office and it did not reflect well on you or the Judiciary,” he said.
According to him, the Chief Justice’s position as leader of the Judiciary does not need ethical laws to guide his conduct. He said if the CJ needs such laws to conduct himself properly, then he is not worthy of the office.
He told him “I hope you can find it in your heart to apologise and pledge to do no more.”