Addressing enthusiastic party sympathizers after filing his nomination, Mr. Sosu urged constituents to reject the NPP Parliamentary Candidate and increase the vote margin for the NDC in both the parliamentary and presidential races.

As he arrived at the Madina EC office, he was greeted with a rousing welcome by supporters.

In a passionate address to the media, he emphasized the need for a thorough audit of the electoral roll, cautioning the Electoral Commission against any attempts to compromise the integrity of the electoral process.

Communication Officer of the NDC in the Madina constituency, Justice Tengey echoed his candidate’s sentiments, bemoaning the hardships faced by Ghanaians and calling for unity among party sympathizers to secure victory.

Source: Kodwo Mensah Aboroampa

In the first half of 2024 alone, he has multiple prestigious awards that highlight his unwavering commitment to human rights and advocacy.

In May 2024, Mr Sosu was honoured as the Outstanding Political Personality in Ghana by the National Golden Excellence Awards Team.

The award highlighted his impactful contributions to policy-making and social justice, extending beyond the borders of the Madina Constituency to influence the nation at large.

This accolade underscores his influential role in shaping policy and championing social justice within the country.

Also, in June, he was adjudged the 2024 Most Outstanding African Parliamentarian 2024 in Human Rights and Advocacy at the African Public Service (APSO) awards held in Accra.

This recognition highlights his pivotal contributions to legislative efforts that prioritise human dignity and equality across Africa.

Aside from these, the lawmaker has been nominated for the US Presidential Voluntary Service Award 2024.

Jacobs-Abbey Global Institute of Leadership Studies in the USA nominated Mr Sosu for the award, and the nomination was approved by the Whitehouse on June 19, 2024.

Mr Sosu’s milestone as the recipient of the US prestigious award is a testament to his global impact in promoting volunteerism and community service beyond borders.

As a legal luminary, author cum parliamentarian, Sosu continues to spearhead initiatives that empower marginalized communities and uphold fundamental freedoms.

These accolades not only celebrate Sosu’s individual accomplishments but also serve as a beacon of hope for those advocating for a more just and equitable world.

His leadership exemplifies the transformative power of legislative action combined with unwavering dedication to humanitarian causes.

He is the immediate past 2nd Vice President of the United Nations Association of Ghana and currently serves as Patron of the Cancer Project Foundation, Ghana, and Vice Chairman of the Trade and Investment Committee of the Africa Bar Association (AfBA).

Sosu also serves as Deputy Ranking Member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana.

As an MP, he has introduced 17 Private Member’s Bills, three 3 of which have been passed, and one awaiting Presidential assent to abolish the Death Penalty in Ghana under the Criminal Offences Amendment Act.

He also championed the criminalization of witchcraft accusations in Ghana to protect vulnerable aged women.

His legislative interventions cover maternity leave extension and paternity leave introduction; a bill to remove taxes on menstrual hygiene products such as sanitary pads; clean air and climate change bills; and a community sentencing bill, among others – a feat which has never before happened in the history of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana.

Sosu’s job creation project, Madina Job Center, has impacted over 7,000 persons through job connections; apprenticeship and vocational training; agribusiness training for Youth in mushroom cultivation; Youth in ICT; Youth in hairdressing; Youth in fashion design; and rabbit and poultry production, among others.

He also has interventions in education which provide mechanized boreholes impacting over 35,000 pupils in his constituency and book supplies for improved literacy.

His health outreaches over three years have impacted over 10,000 constituents.

The petition filed on April 2nd requests the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of the Ga traditional priest, Gborbu Wulomo over his traditional marriage to a 12-year-old girl in Nungua on March, 30.

Mr. Sosu considers the Wulomo’s conduct criminal, constituting a violation of both local and international laws on child care and protection.

He highlights that, “the said marriage is illegal, null and void because by law a child under 18 cannot enter marriage.”

Mr. Sosu also argues that, although traditional religious arguments are being made in support of marriage, the Constitution is clear in Article 26 concerning the limitations of traditions and customs.

“For clarity, Article 26 (1) provides as follows “Every person is entitled to enjoy, practice, profess, maintain and promote any culture, language, tradition or religion subject to the provisions of this Constitution” It provides further in Article 26(2) that “All customary practices which dehumanize or are injurious to the physical and mental well-being of a person are prohibited” It is my respectful view that the customary practice being referred to are unconstitutional and not backed by the laws of Ghana.”

The MP therefore demanded an investigation be launched into what he refers to as a “potential defilement,” and that the priest be prosecuted.

Read full petition below:

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The bill is to amend Section 3 of the Public Holidays Act 2001 (Act 601) to substitute public holidays that fall on days between Tuesday and Thursday to Friday.

This, however, he said should not apply to Islamic holidays.

His proposed amendment also gives relevant power and authority to the President to by executive instrument merge in a particular calendar year, the celebration of any two public holidays in the public interest.

The proposal also seeks to repeal section 2 of Act 601 where by practiced under the current regime, public holidays that fall on weekends are not marked as such, but instead postponed to Mondays.

The bill seeks to abolish the criminalisation of the non-observance of public holidays as captured under section 5 of Act 601.

According to the MP, the proposal “forms part of efforts to realise the achievement of a more progressive and productive society.”

Full document below:

According to the human rights legal practitioner, he was forced to spend the night at Malata Market because it was raining that evening.

He subsequently went to his examination hall to write his final papers in a wet uniform.

Mr Sosu made these revelations in an interview on Joy Learning’s Edunews 360.

In the interview he shared that ‘’no one has an excuse to give up on education’’.

He shared that talent can make you great but that is limited and that there is something one should be able to hold on to and that is education.

The lawyer further stated that he became the Senior Boys Prefect of St. John’s Grammar though he was homeless and slept in a kiosk that belonged to a seamstress at Kotobabi after moving from sleeping at the Malata market.

Mr Sosu said he initially lived with his parents at Taifa Burkina but due to lack of electricity, he studied with a lantern which affected his eyes, hence his sleeping in a kiosk at Kotobabi.

‘’Even learning with a  lantern, those from St. John Grammar will remember that at the end of the first year when they did the speech and prize giving day I  won seven awards’’.

Furthermore, he disclosed that his book ‘homeless’ was approved by Ghana Education Service as a supplementary reader for public schools because it shares how focus on education can transform the life of every child.

“For me education made a lot of difference in my life and that’s how come I try to keep the focus on school,” he added.

According to him, he has not been arrested nor under arrest.

Reports on Friday indicated the MP was arrested on Thursday, November 3 for driving in the middle of the road around the Airport in his V8 vehicle.

The report added that the lawmaker has been charged to appear in court.

But in a Facebook post, Mr Sosu indicated the reports are not entirely accurate.

Giving an account of the incident, he confirmed he was on Thursday cited for a traffic offence on his way from his constituency to Parliament.

Without giving a lot of details, he, however, said he has already dealt with the matter in a La court and currently performing his duties as an MP.

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“It seems to me that the news of my arrest is more important to the Ghana Police Service than their core mandate. For instance, how many persons were cited for traffic offences yesterday?

“How many of them are in the news? Please, let’s get serious as a country!” he lashed out at the Police.

Below is the full post:

This was after he was arraigned before the La District Court on Friday on the charges of reckless and inconsiderate driving, driving in the middle of the road facing oncoming traffic and causing danger to other road users.

The Court also directed Mr Sosu to remove the front siren lights on his vehicle which the Police say had been unlawfully fitted.

The lawmaker according to the Police was arrested on November 3 after he was spotted driving in the middle of the road around the Airport by-pass in a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicle with registration number GB-9776-21.

In a statement, the Police indicated his action was risking the lives of pedestrians and other road users.

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“We would like to entreat all drivers to be mindful of the safety of other road users at all times to prevent avoidable accidents and their associated deaths and injuries, especially as the Christmas season approaches,” the Police said.

Below is the full statement:

The lawmaker, according to Police sources, was arrested on 3rd November 2022.

This was after he was seen driving in the middle of the road around Airport in his vehicle with registration number GB-9776-21 allegedly with no regard for law-abiding pedestrians and other road users.

His vehicle has since been impounded by the Police.

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The lawmaker has also been charged to appear in court.

The court, presided over by Her Ladyship Justice Barbara N. Tetteh-Charway, ruled that based on the nature of the substantive application, the motion for an injunction is “inappropriate.”

The Court on Monday, March 28, after ruling on the application, directed the parties to file the written submissions on or before April 15.

Lawyer Sosu, who is the applicant in the case, was present and represented himself.

While Clarence Kuwornu, a Chief State Attorney, represented the IGP as a legal representative.

According to EIB Network’s Court Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, the parties are to report back to court on April 27 for a date to be fixed for judgment.

Mr Xavier-Sosu is praying the court to stop the IGP from any attempt to infringe on his rights.

He was asking for an interlocutory injunction against the IGP and his officers from attempting to arrest, investigate and maliciously prosecute him.

In the substantive matter, the MP is asking the court to enforce his rights, order for the enforcement of his right to free movement, protest, demonstration, and personal liberty among others under Article 14(1), 21(1), and 33 of the 1992 constitution.

Madina Member of Parliament (MP), Francis Xavier-Sosu, has warned judges who become political will be treated as politicians.

He has, therefore, cautioned the judiciary against being partisan in the discharge of their duties.

The Human Rights lawyer made the appeal during the National Democratic Congress’ Yentua demo against the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy) on Thursday.

“I am begging you, if you make yourself a political judge, you will be treated as a political judge. What it means is that when you become partisan as a judge remember that your tenure of office as a judge will run with the political party that you favour.

“Let that be clear because political power is very transient, positions are not possessions so people will come, people will go,” he stated.

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Meanwhile, the MP is currently standing trial over the unlawful blockade of public roads and destruction of public property in his constituency during a street protest he led last year but it is unclear if his comments have anything to do with the trial process.

Play the audio above:

The scheme dubbed Service Above Self Best Teacher Awards took place on Friday, January 7, 2022, at the House of Miracle Church Auditorium, Madina Estate.

The ceremony which was also to mark his first year as MP for the area was in conjunction with the Sampson Amoateng Foundation.

The awards, he noted, form part of his commitment to Teacher Motivation in the constituency and also to improve the quality of teaching and learning.

The ceremony was graced by National Democratic Congress (NDC) bigwigs including 2020 Running Mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor Joshua Alabi.

French Ambassador to Ghana, Anne Sophie, traditional rulers among others was also present.

A teacher by name, Oscar, was crowned the overall best teacher and awarded a car while Miss Hilda Konadu Owusu came second.

Several teachers were also honoured for their dedicated services.

Special honours were also presented to the MCE, Jennifer, Agyabeng, former MCE, Municipal Education Director, Former Madina MP, Ahaji Sorogho, Former MP, Boniface Bukari among other individuals for their tremendous contributions towards education in the area.

This comes barely 24 hours after he failed to honour a criminal summons brought against him by the Ghana Police Service.

The Human Rights lawyer was expected to appear before the Kaneshie District Court following several failed attempts by the police to arrest him.

The legislator is accused of unlawfully blocking public road and causing destruction to public property when he led constituents on a demonstration.

Mr Sosu, however, failed to show up on two occasions, an absence the Speaker Alban Bagbin attributed to Parliamentary duties abroad.

It is not immediately clear whether the lawmaker was indeed out of the country as the same excuse was given for his absence when the case was called on Tuesday, November 16, 2021.

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His legal team, represented by Victor Adawudu, was quick to explain. He said it simply meant the MP was performing parliamentary duties.

He assured the court the MP would show up on the next date. The case was adjourned to November 29.

Last week, the legislator was billed to appear before the Court, but he absented himself because he was on Parliamentary duties outside the country.

The matter was therefore adjourned to November 16.

Soon after the Court adjourned, it came to light that the Police had received a letter from the Speaker of Parliament indicating that the MP was on parliamentary duties outside Ghana.

Sosu’s charge stems from a demonstration he led in his constituency on October 25, this year over bad roads in his area.

The protest was to compel stakeholders to repair the deplorable roads in the Madina Constituency.

Mr Bagbin, who agrees with the school of thought that no MP is above the law, adds that he never at any point prevented the arrest of any member of the House.

Citing the case of Madina MP, Francis Xavier-Sosu which in recent times has generated a lot of controversies, the former Nadowli-Kaleo MP described it as an obstruction of parliamentary duties.

“There is an increase in public discourse in recent times about the privileges and immunities of MPs, officers of Parliament, and Parliament itself.  It is not new. Since I became an MP, it has been coming up a number of times, and even now, some of these things come to my desk, and we have processed a number of them well.

“We are all aware that a number of MPs are before the court, and they are being prosecuted. So, there is nobody saying, MPs or Parliament are above the law,” he said at a breakfast meeting on Monday.

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According to him, the police had no right to arrest the MP as he was about to address his constituents during the demonstration and had gone through due process.

“But this particular instance before us involving the MP for Madina, I can put my neck on it, that you have no such powers after he had gone through all the processes with you, and then you send your contingent to arrest him while he was talking to his people.

“That is obstruction and how can that be said that the Speaker is preventing the MP to be arrested. That can not be tolerated,” he lashed out.

The human rights lawyer on October 25, led his constituents on a demonstration to get their bad roads fixed.

The legislator is accused of unlawfully blocking public roads and causing destruction to public property.

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin had earlier written to the police service indicating his inability to release the MP to assist with investigations.

Speaking on Sunday, on JoyNews’ The Law, the lawyer stated that some marks on his face were inflicted through a cruel religious practice that was meted out to him under the ‘Trokosi system.’

“I have also been a victim of Voodoo practice. If you look carefully at my face, you’ll see marks and these are Voodoo marks. They are marks from a shrine,” he said.

“And these are shrines my mother and dad were all victims of through the Trokosi system,” he added.

The disclosure was made during discussions about a proposed bill that seeks to criminise the activities of witch doctors as well as sanction people who accuse others of practicing or engaging in witchcraft.

The MP, who has joined forces with the Sanneh Institute to push for this bill to be a reality, stated that the act that was inflicted on him years back, is one of his motivations for pushing for the bill.

“These are all part of religious beliefs that are inimical to the human being, reduce people’s confidence, and don’t promote growth in people,” he said.

The MPs have introduced a Private Members’ Bill to amend the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) to prohibit the practice by any person as a witch doctor or witchfinder.

The sponsors are MPs for Madina, Pusiga, and Wa East Constituencies, Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba, and Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw respectively.

The bill is expected to also proscribe the declaration, accusation, naming, or labeling of another person as a witch; to prohibit a person from employing or soliciting anyone to accuse, name, label, indicate, or declare another person as a witch and provide for related matters.

Over the years, the lack of knowledge and education has resulted in some of our people being extremely vulnerable, especially the aged and uninformed, particularly old women.

Adult persons, weakened by age and reeling from senility or dementia or both, often say outrageous things, and are then intimidated, brow-beaten, and coerced into admitting being witches; often acquiescing out of sheer frustration.

Children, who may have exhibited weird signs in one way or the other, have not been spared such accusations.

Consequently, the proponents of this bill are seeking to end cruel practices meted out to victims of these accusations.

During the show, the Executive Director of the Sanneh Institute, Prof John Azumah, who is among the proponents of the bill indicated that consultations with priests have often revealed that these accusations are false.

The lawyer, who condemned the act, further noted that the bill is to hold people accountable for their actions.

“Particularly when it comes to the accusations of witchcraft, it is one of the most deplorable situations you can ever have in our casual setting,” hence, “the bill seeks to hold people accountable for their actions.”

He was commenting on the current impasse between the Police and Parliament regarding the attempted arrest of Madina Member of Parliament (MP), Francis Xavier-Sosu.

The MP has been slapped with charges, including destroying public property following what the police say is his refusal to honour their invitation.

On October 25, the MP led a street protest in his constituency of Madina to press home a demand for bad roads to be fixed.

He has since been a subject of police investigations for some acts that the police say amount to crimes during the protest.

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, in a letter to the police and a statement, condemned the attempted arrest of the MP by the police.

He also indicated he could not release the MP to assist with investigations since Parliament is in session.
The basis of the Speaker’s view is Article 117 and 118 of Ghana’s constitution.

Commenting on the development, the former Clerk said the immunity is not meant to encourage the commission of crime.

Mr Darkwa insisted MPs found to be committing crimes can be arrested and that the Speaker ought to be informed after such an arrest.

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He explains the whole idea of immunity is to prevent the Executive from using arrests to reduce parliamentary numbers during crucial votes.

“Immunities and privileges for MPs are not license to commit crimes. On the contrary, they are supposed to prevent crimes to ensure peace. And, therefore, if a Member of Parliament is caught committing crime, I think that he can be restrained,” he said.

Mr Nukporkporvi has claimed in an interview with Adom FM morning, Dwaso Nsem that it was rather the MP who drove into the crowd while escaping from police arrest and not the bodyguard.

The police in a statement have clarified their decision to relieve Inspector Agbavor of his duties, following a public backlash.

The statement suggested the officer allegedly drove recklessly into a crowd, directly endangering the lives of two Senior Officers and other civilians.

He has since been asked to bring his uniforms and the service further noted that the Parliamentary Protection Unit has been tasked to assign a new guard to the MP.

But Mr Nukporkporvi has expressed shock at the accounts by the police.

He said the interdiction of Inspector Agbavor is an attempt to intimidate Mr Sosu to hand himself over to the police.

“I have heard about the interdiction and I was so shocked because he didn’t drive; Honourable did.  When the confrontation started, the police officer hit and pushed the car so he [Sosu] had to drive away,” David Nukporkporvi said.

Play the audio below for more of David Nukporkporvi‘s account:

The protest is to express the constituency’s displeasure over the devastation caused by recent heavy rainfalls which flooded and trapped some constituents in their homes.

According to the MP, the dire situation in his constituency following the rains is a result of neglect from the government.

Mr Xavier-Sosu said the protest will drum home their demands and compel the government to quickly step in.

“The demonstration has been called because of the extreme bad nature of the roads in the constituency, and we have actually drawn the government’s attention to this for some time now and it seems all our attempts have fallen on deaf ears,” he stated.

Visuals from the constituency pictures scores of constituents predominantly clad in red and marching across the streets of Ayi-Mensah.

Road users in the area have been left stranded as the protestors have blocked sections of the Ayi-Mensah, Danfa, and Otinibi road.

Police have reportedly arrested one of the protestors.

Watch video below

I forcefully made the point as follows “His Lordship the Chief Justice must realize that his position is not a private one and he is equally subject to public accountability and criticism.

Questioning the independence of the judiciary is an expression of an opinion which every Ghanaian retains the constitutional right so to do.”

I remarked further that “Justice emanates from the people and dispensed on their behalf by the Judiciary. Contrary to all assumptions that the Judiciary is infallible and beyond public constructive, academic and political criticism, it is rather apodictic that no human institution is inerrable.

The constitutionally empowered citizens and not spectators have an indefeasible right to not only to question any judicial process but also how justice is dispensed.” 

Fortified by the above convictions and given the sensitivity of the allegations of bribery against no mean a person than the Chief Justice, the 4^th man in our governance structure, this surely must not be treated lightly.

All lovers of Justice and anti-corruption crusaders and institutions such as the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP), Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), Ghana Bar Association (GBA), the Parliament of Ghana and various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as well as the media must be bold to demand full investigation into this bribery allegation to ascertain its veracity.

My interest in this matter stems from the fact that the allegations rather goes to the root of the independence of the judiciary.

Beyond the bribery scandal is the biggest question of whether or not the Supreme Court which is the highest Court of the land and indeed the entire judicial system is free from influences when deciding the rights of parties that appear before it.

Judicial Integrity and Independence Under International Law

The acceptable conduct of the judiciary and judicial officers is underpinned by not only local legislation but also international law. I have reviewed a few standards that should guide our approach in dealing with this matter.

International Standards on Judicial Conduct

At the international level, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are key instruments in safeguarding rights. However, rights cannot be fully protected without the work of Judiciary functioning with integrity.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights identifies the principle that everyone is entitled in full equality to fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of rights and obligations of parties before it, as a fundamental one.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also guarantees that all persons shall be equal before the courts, and that in the determination of any rights and obligations in a suit at law, everyone shall be entitled, without undue delay, to fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law.

The Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct 2002

The Bangalore Draft Code of Judicial Conduct 2001 was adopted by the Judicial Group on Strengthening Judicial Integrity, as revised at the Round Table Meeting of Chief Justices held at the Peace Palace, The Hague between 25^th to 26^th November 2002.

According to The Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct 2002, “Judicial independence is a pre-requisite to the rule of law and a fundamental guarantee of a fair trial. A judge shall therefore uphold and exemplify judicial independence in both its individual and institutional aspects”.

In the application of the above Principle, it is provided as follows “A judge shall exercise the judicial function independently on the basis of the judge’s assessment of the facts and in accordance with a conscientious understanding of the law, free of any extraneous influences, inducements, pressures, threats or interference, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reason.”

This implies that a judge must not be influenced by any monetary consideration when determining the rights of parties. If that happens it must be a subject of investigation.

Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary (1985)

These principles were made pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to establish circumstances under which justice can be achieved particularly for the protection and enforcement of human rights and fundamental freedoms. 

The ultimate goal was to find ways to guarantee the principles of equality before the law and fair hearing.

The 2^nd Principle under Judicial independence provides as follows: “The judiciary shall decide matters before them impartially, on the basis of facts and in accordance with the law, without any restrictions, improper influences, inducements, pressures, threats or interferences, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reason.”

Again this principle also reaffirms the position that a judge must not be influenced in anyway when performing his or her judicial function.

General Assembly Resolution on Integrity of the Judicial System

The Human Rights Council in its Twenty-fifth session Agenda on Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development, adopted the resolution by the Human Rights Council 25/4 on Integrity of the judicial system stressed that “the integrity of the judicial system, together with its independence and impartiality, is an essential prerequisite for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, for upholding the rule of law and democracy and ensuring that there is no discrimination in the administration of justice.”

Judges Conduct Under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana

The Constitution provides in Article 125 that “Justice emanates from the people and shall be administered in the name of the Republic by the Judiciary which shall be independent and subject only to this Constitution”, and further provides that the citizens would participate in the administration of justice.

In Article 125 (3) it is expressly provided that “the judicial power of Ghana shall be vested in the Judiciary, accordingly, neither the President nor Parliament nor any organ or agency of the President or Parliament shall have or be given final judicial power.”

It cannot be overemphasized that the Judiciary, being the 4^th Organ of State plays a critical role in the governance of the state.

The Constitution goes ahead to again provide in Article 125 (4) that “The Chief Justice shall, subject to this Constitution, be the Head of the Judiciary and shall be responsible for the administration and supervision of the Judiciary.

Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates

The Code of Conduct for Judges and Magistrates was adopted to “assist judges in carrying out their onerous responsibilities; support the independence, impartiality and unity of the judiciary, and establish and promote public trust and confidence towards the judiciary.”

RULE 1 of the CODE provides for Upholding the Integrity and Independence of the Judiciary.

The provision is as follows “An independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society.

A judge should maintain and enforce high standards of conduct, and should personally observe those standards so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary is preserved.”

RULE 2 provides for the Avoidance of Impropriety and the Appearance Of Impropriety in all of the Judge’s Activities.

It provides that: “A judge shall respect and comply with the law and should act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary” Rule 2 (B) provides that “ a judge shall not allow family, social, political, or other relationships to influence the judge’s judicial conduct or judgment.

A judge shall not lend the prestige of judicial office to advance the private interests of the judge or others; nor shall a judge convey or permit others to convey the impression that they are in a special position to influence the judge…

RULE 7 further provides for Compliance With The Code Of Conduct and provides as follows “Anyone, whether or not a lawyer, who is an officer of the Judicial Service performing judicial functions, including an officer such as a referee in bankruptcy, special master, court commissioner, or magistrate, is a judge for the purpose of this Code” and “where a Judge commits a breach of any rule of this Code, he shall be sanctioned with reference to the gravity of the act or omission constituting the breach in accordance with the Judicial Service Regulations”

Anti-Corruption Action Plan for the Judiciary and Judicial Service (2017 – 2019)

In the introduction to the Anti-corruption plan of the Judiciary, it is remarked “Corruption is an insidious plague that has a wide range of corrosive effects on societies.

It undermines democracy and the rule of law, leads to violations of human rights, distorts markets, erodes the quality of life, and allows organized crime, terrorism, and other threats to human security to flourish.

It hampers efforts to alleviate poverty, undermines political stability and economic growth and diminishes the country’s attractiveness for investment.’

Given this background, the Judiciary by itself has indicated that they do not treat allegations of corruption lightly.

The Anti-Corruption Action Plan of the Judiciary took into account the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, 2003, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, 2003, and the ECOWAS Protocol on the Fight Against Corruption, adopted by Ghana in 2003 as a means of fashioning out ways of eliminating corruption from the Judicial Service.

One of the strategic objectives of the plan is to build public capacity to condemn and fight corruption and make its practice a high-risk, low-gain activity. Indeed to build public confidence means the need to take decisive steps to reassure the public that the Judiciary will do justice to all. 

Analysis of Issues Raised by the Allegation

Issues emanating from the letter of Lawyer Kwasi Afrifa dated 8^th July, 2021 in response to the 1^st March 2021 Complaint of Ogyeadom Obranum Kwesi Atta VI to the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council is as follows:

Brief Facts According to Lawyer Afrifa

In his letter dated 8^th July, he stated “at the end of July 2020 the Petitioner informed me that friends of his who were highly and connected politically had taken him to see the Chief Justice who had agreed to help him win his case on condition that he drops my good self as the Lawyer handling the case for him and engage Akoto Ampaw (Esq) in my stead.

He further informed me that the Chief Justice had demanded a bribe of USD$5,000,000 for a successful outcome to his case and that he had already paid USD$500,000 to the Chief Justice.

He further indicated that he was hard-pressed to raise the remainder of the USD$5,000,000 and so I should refund some of the GH¢300, 000 paid to me as fees because he had in line with the advice of the Chief Justice engaged Akoto Ampaw (Esq) as Solicitor to continue the case before the Supreme Court.”

The above narrative brings to the fore two main issues which are of serious public interest which if true would be one of the biggest judicial scandals in the history of the 4^th Republic. These matters are:

1. That Lawyer Afrifa’s Client told him he was able to negotiate with the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana to accept a USD5,000,000 bribe in order for him to influence the outcome of the case at the apex court out of which he had already paid USD$500,000. This is very ridiculous and cannot be simply swept under the carpets.

2. That the Chief Justice contrary to the Code of Conduct of Judges counselled him to drop his lawyer Kwasi Afrifa and go for Akoto Ampaw (Esq) as condition for a successful outcome of his case.

It must be, however, placed on record that the said Ogyeadom Obranum Kwesi Atta VI on 11^th July 2021 has issued a disclaimer in which he never met the Chief Justice nor ever bribed the Chief Justice.

Chief Justice Must Resign his Position as CJ or step aside as Chairman of the General Legal Council for Justice to Prevail

An allegation of this nature though not a direct allegation deserves all the necessary attention. The President of the Republic would have to pay serious attention to the allegation.

For the public to continue to hold the judiciary and the high office of the Chief Justice in high esteem there is the need for some firm actions.  By the application of law, the Chief Justice is the Chairman of the General Legal Council.

This definitely would create serious doubt if he remains in the position whilst investigations into the allegations are done.

Section 1 of the Legal Professions Act, 1960 (Act 32) provides for the establishment of the General Legal Council and section (2) provides for the constitution of the Council. As set out in the First Schedule to this Act, the Chief Justice is the Chairman of the General Legal Council.

It is trite law that one cannot be a judge in his own course. Being the one whose name has popped up in these proceedings, the Chief Justice must do the needful.

Justice we say must not just be done but must be seen to be done. There is no way the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council will be impartial in their work when the Chairman remains at post. In any event, it is the Chief Justice as Chairman of the General Legal Council that will chair to approve the final decision of the Disciplinary Committee. That being the case, justice and fairness can only be done if the Chief Justice Steps aside.

Even if the allegation is false there must be independent investigation to ascertain the falsity of the allegation. Given the laws cited above, we can only ensure integrity of the judiciary if such allegations are taken seriously and dealt with. We cannot maintain public confidence in the judiciary when such serious allegations are swept under the carpet and no decisive steps taken against them.  

Issues of Lawyer / Client Privileges and Right to Privacy

It is very likely that people may begin to make references to Lawyer/Client privilege information and right to privacy.

It is important to note that the right to privacy is not an absolute one.

Which the disclosure of the said information is necessary for the public interest and for prevention of crime, one cannot hide under right to privacy or privileged information.

Article 18(2) of the Constitution provides as follows: “No person shall be subjected to interference with the privacy of his home, property, correspondence or communication except in accordance with law and as may be necessary in a free and democratic society for public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the protection of the rights or freedoms of others” 

Conclusion & Recommendation

This matter is a serious public interest matter and how we deal with it as a people will set a new standard for dealing with judicial corruption.

If it were any other arm or organ of state, whether Parliament or the Executive, the matter would not die merely because the one who was alleged to have made those statements came to deny them.

What would we expect? The person who is alleged to have made the bribery allegation still has a pending case at the Supreme Court.

The least he can do is to put in a disclaimer as he has done. But for anti-corruption watchers, the media, CSOs, Ghana Bar Association and all who care about the future of our judiciary, this must rather stimulate our curiosity.

The Security agencies with the requisite expertise must be interested in investigating this matter to its logical conclusion. We can only unravel the truth if we investigate the matter.

Article 17 (1) provides that “all persons shall be equal before the law and Article 17(2) provides that “a person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status.”

From the above, I respectfully recommend the following:

1. A resignation of the Chief Justice or stepping aside as the Chairman of the General Council.

2. A full-scale investigation by the Office of Special Prosecutor. There must be investigation into the accounts, recent assets acquired by the CJ (if any), and an investigation into all financial transactions by the said Ogyeadom Obranum Kwesi Atta VI and receivables by the Chief Justice in the last one year.

3. EOCO must take steps to investigate potential proceeds of crime that could have been acquired by the Chief Justice.

4. CHRAJ should institute anti-corruption investigation into the activities of the Chief Justice.

5. Judicial Committee of Parliament must open a full-scale public hearing into the matter to bring back public confidence into the judiciary.

6. Police Protection for Lawyer Kwasi Afrifa until the final determination of the matter. This is because, given the nature of the accusation, the witness needs to be protected given the current state of insecurity in the country.

In conclusion, as deputy Ranking Member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, I wish to call on the President of the Republic, Office of Special Prosecutor and Coalition of CSOs, to officially request the CJ to step aside for an unbiased investigation to be conducted.

****

The writer, Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu is a private legal practitioner, human rights lawyer, Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, Member of Appointments Committee and Deputy Ranking Member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament. The writer can be contacted via: francisxavier.sosu@gmail.comwww.madinamp.com

The photos were to announce the arrival of a new member of his nuclear family.

The proud father, who was beside himself with joy, quoted part of the Bible and prayed for God’s blessings upon her.

He identified the baby girl as Mia Gayra Ahenkan Sosu who becomes the fourth child.

The photos also captured her naming ceremony and christening held over the weekend.

Posting the photos, he wrote: Help me welcome our latest addition to the Sosu family. The Bible says Children are a heritage from the Lord. Psalm 127:3. We receive her with love and pray for grace to train her in the way of the Lord.

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We pray she grows in the fear of God to serve her generation. Thanks to all those who supported us over the weekend during her naming ceremony and Christening.

The MP, in a video shared on Facebook, is seen stirring banku in his mother’s kitchen.

“We are ordinary people. Position and power won’t change who we are. I spent some time with my mum doing what we both love to do much. There is no Mum like Comfort Adzevor who sacrificed all to make me who I am today,” he wrote on Facebook.

The Madina MP also used the opportunity to celebrate all mothers in his constituency.

“Happy Mother’s Day to her and all hard-working women in Madina. Enjoy my little crazy moments yesterday with my mum in our ‘holy village’”

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Watch video below: