"It's Like Creating A Mob To Bastardize The Judiciary" - Allotey Jacobs 'Shoots' NDC

Social Commentator, Bernard Allotey Jacobs has challenged Dr. Dominic Ayine to face the General Legal Council (GLC), regulatory body of the legal profession in Ghana.

Chief Justice Anin-Yeboah has dragged Dr. Dominic Ayine to the GLC over allegations that the latter has scandalized the Judiciary in some comments he passed during a public forum organized by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD).

“His Lordship the Chief Justice therefore finds his alleged disparaging comments totally unacceptable and would like you to investigate the matter,” the CJ's petition read.

But the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rebuked the CJ over his petition and asked him to withdraw it.

NDC General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia defended Dr. Ayine saying his comment "does not violate any rule or professional conduct rules for lawyers”.

He added, "Neither Dr Ayine, nor we in the NDC can be compelled to increase our confidence in the independence of the Judiciary even when the Court has not given us any basis or reason to do so.”

National Communications Officer of the party, Sammy Gyamfi, in an interview with Okay FM, also held that, "Ghana is a democratic country and so the 1992 Constitution which is being used to govern the country allows everybody to express their opinion or the freedom of expression. In view of this, anybody can express their opinion or views after a judgment has been given on a case".

“The opinion may not favour the Chief Justice, or it may not base on law, and it may be wrong, but that is the opinion of someone and the person is entitled to it and the law says that the person cannot be persecuted or harassed for expressing their opinion.

“Lawyers from both NPP and NDC expressed their opinions; while the NPP lawyers supported the ruling of the Supreme Court on the 2020 election petition, the NDC lawyer, Dr Ayine disagreed with the ruling of the Supreme Court and that has angered Justice Anin-Yeboah to write to the General Legal Council to punish Dr Ayine,” he further stated.

Addressing the issues on Peace FM's flagship programme ''Kokrokoo'', Allotey Jacobs was of a strong opinion that Dr. Ayine doesn't need any defence from the NDC.

According to him, ''he's (Dr. Ayine) capable. He can defend himself. He's been the Deputy Attorney General before. He's highly respected within the legal profession. He should go and defend himself. He should go, express his conviction and defend himself . . . it's as simple as ABCD''.

Allotey Jacobs registered his utter displeasure with the NDC statements on the CJ's petition warning the party that, "a country without justice and Judiciary, it is no country. It becomes a jungle country where everybody does whatever he likes. If we set our eyes on the Judiciary, law and order will break down''.

To him, ''if you look at the press conference, it's like creating a mob to bastardize the Judiciary''.