"No Arm Of Gov't Can Have Unfettered Power" - Dep Info Minister

Mr. Felix Kwakye-Ofosu, a Deputy Minister for Information and Media Relations has called for clarification on the extent to which one can comment on the ongoing contestation of the 2012 election results at the Supreme Court, since the live telecast of proceeding would naturally call for discussions. He was of the view that a �fine balance must be struck between maintaining law and order, and protecting free speech�. Equating it to a football match, the Deputy Minister explained that the rationale offered by the apex court for allowing live coverage of proceedings was for the populace to see that justice is being done; �but once you open it up, people are expected to comment on what they see. The same way you watch a football match and analyze whether or not a team�s performance was impressive�. Felix Kwakye-Ofosu further reiterated �it is perhaps in our interest that, immediately we codify this contempt thing and put out clear initiative that also ensure that people do not use their discretion and powers given to them to perform a specific function to curb people�s freedom because they are unhappy about what they have said�. He argued, just as the Legislature or Executive arms of government cannot behave arbitrarily by causing the arrest of individuals for criticizing them, the judiciary should be able to do otherwise. Felix Kwakye Ofosu was speaking on the back of a caution by the highest court of the land, which is hearing the ongoing election petition to the public, to desist from writing letters to the court since such actions were contemptuous on Metro TV�s �Good Morning Ghana� programme. During Wednesday morning�s hearing, the court revealed that it has been receiving letters from all manner of persons making suggestions to the court on the ongoing case. The President of the nine-member panel, Justice William Atuguba who made this known said the action was unwholesome. He said some of the letters are from people, some of whom are �highly placed�some, we are surprised at the names.� Justice Atuguba cautioned that such people don�t know technically that it was wrong to write to the court in that manner. However, the Deputy Information Minister opined that the �same way we grew wary of the powers of the Executive and the Legislature and sought to put curbs, we must put in similar checks because my fundamental believe is that, no arm of government can have unfettered power�.