Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has launched a sharp attack on Ghana’s judiciary, alleging it acts in the interest of political actors following the Tamale High Court’s decision to annul the 2024 parliamentary election in Kpandai Constituency.
On Monday, the court upheld a petition by NDC candidate Daniel Nsala Wakpal, who claimed the December 7, 2024, election was riddled with irregularities. The court ordered a rerun within 30 days, a decision that has drawn strong criticism from the Minority.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Wednesday, November 26, Mr. Afenyo-Markin described the judiciary’s conduct as “shameful,” claiming judges were serving the interests of their “paymasters.”
“The judiciary must know that their actions and inaction to serve the interests of whoever their paymaster is have the tendency of destroying our peaceful republic. We will not mince words. They can conspire to call us one by one for a so-called contempt of court. We are criticising their shameful conduct. We are not afraid,” he said.
He also questioned the manner in which the ruling was delivered, calling it unprecedented and legally troubling.
“How can a judge who calls himself a judge sit in court and misconduct himself in such a manner and expect the country to be quiet? This order, with massive political, legal, and democratic consequences, was pronounced without a full written judgment. There were no written reasons, no factual findings, no legal analysis, just a naked directive issued into the public domain,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin said.
He further noted that while courts occasionally deliver rulings with reasons to follow, it is unacceptable in a case of such magnitude.
“I am a practising lawyer of experience at the bar. I understand that courts occasionally deliver rulings with reasons to follow. But such a practice is the exception, not the rule. And it is never acceptable when the stakes are this high,” he added.
The Effutu MP also alleged that the NDC had prior knowledge of the court’s decision before it was officially delivered, raising concerns about transparency and fairness in the judicial process.
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