The National Democratic Congress has vehemently opposed President Akufo-Addo’s recommendation of five Justices to be added to the Supreme Court Justices.

The President’s recommendation follows a letter by the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaba Torkonoo to President Akufo-Addo requesting for the addition of five more Judges.

General Secretary of the NDC, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey in a press conference on Thursday, July 4 described the recommendation as an affront to Ghana’s democracy.

He noted that President Akufo-Addo together with the Chief Justice are conniving to impose a “direct threat to Ghana’s Judicial system.”

“This isn’t just a political manoeuvre of an already existing failed President; it’s an assault on our democracy, a betrayal of public trust.

According to the NDC, the addition of the five Judges to the Supreme Court Justices will only contribute to creating a “judiciary that is no longer a check on executive power, but a mere extension of it.”

“This is not the Ghana our forefathers fought for; this is not the democracy we pledged to uphold. Our nation deserves better, and it is our duty to stand up and protect the very foundations of our democratic society,” Fiifi Kwetey stated.

The party further urged President Akufo-Addo to halt the Supreme Court appointments.

“We demand that President Akufo-Addo immediately stop any plans to appoint additional judges to the Supreme Court.”

Mr Kwetey argued that the Chief Justice’s letter to the President is unconstitutional as there’s “nowhere in the Constitution where the Chief Justice is named as the one to recommend persons to the President for appointment to the Supreme Court.”

The five judges recommended by the Chief Justice include Her Ladyship Justice Angelina Mensah Homiah, His Lordship Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, His Lordship Justice Edward Amoako Asante, Her Ladyship Justice Cyra Pamela C.A Koranteng, and Her Ladyship Justice Afia Asare Botwe, the judge currently presiding over the Ambulance trial.

3 news.com