Retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice William Atuguba, has cautioned that the integrity of the country’s judiciary can only be restored if partisan political influence is removed from the appointment of Chief Justices.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with JoyNews, aired on the The Pulse on Tuesday, September 9, Justice Atuguba speaking on the recent handling and removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Tokornoo, said future appointments should be made devoid of politics.
The show host, Elton Brobbey asked, “How do we restore the lost confidence in the Judiciary?”
Justice Atuguba’s response was emphatic, “The appointing process shouldn’t involve political hands.”
According to him, he had previously raised concerns about political involvement in such appointments, but regretted that his warnings were not heeded.
“I have complained about this before in some of my previous interviews. If you look at the appointment of Superior Court Judges…….,” he lamented on the process.
Chief Justice Tokornoo was removed from office recently following a thorough probe by a committee set by the President after allegations of administrative lapses and questions over her leadership style.
Her removal has generated significant public debate, with critics describing the process as politically motivated, while government insists it was carried out in accordance with constitutional procedures.
Justice Atuguba emphasised that shielding the judiciary from political manipulation is critical to safeguarding Ghana’s democracy and ensuring that justice is dispensed impartially.