The Director of Field Operations for the United Party, Hopeson Adorye, has called on Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie to disregard the Minority in Parliament should they later seek judicial assistance, following their decision to boycott his recent official engagement with Parliament.
His comments follow the Minority’s announcement at a press briefing on Monday, January 26, that they would boycott the Chief Justice’s planned visit to Parliament.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show, Mr Adorye described the Minority’s actions as unfortunate and counterproductive, arguing that the country is at a critical stage of national development rather than in the heat of political campaigning.
He criticised the decision to boycott the Chief Justice’s visit, describing it as unnecessary and diversionary.
“It is very unfortunate that they decided to boycott that visit. The behaviour of the Minority is becoming unacceptable. We do not need these attitudes. This is a time for nation-building. We are not yet in a political campaign period. We are only in the second year after the last elections, and this is the time to focus on building the nation,” he said.
Mr Adorye questioned why the Minority could not set aside partisan interests to support national development efforts.
“So why can’t you help us to build the nation? All the things they are doing, I will term them as diversionary tactics ahead of Saturday’s programme. The accusations, the insults, and all those kinds of things are meant to divert attention by bringing in unnecessary controversies,” he stated.
He also took issue with remarks by the Minority Leader regarding the Chief Justice’s engagement with Parliament, describing them as inappropriate and disrespectful.
“How can a whole Minority Leader address the nation and say that the Chief Justice is coming to visit Parliament and they are not going to be part of it? Whether you like it or not, the Chief Justice is the Chief Justice. He is the head of the Judiciary,” Mr Adorye said.
He warned that members of the Minority could one day require judicial intervention and would have no choice but to turn to the Chief Justice.
“Anything can happen to any of the Minority members, and you will need the support of the Chief Justice at that time. Can you approach him after all this? You cannot,” he argued.
Mr Adorye further explained that the appointment of the Chief Justice is a constitutional responsibility of the President, stressing that the Minority does not determine who occupies the position.
“Someone has been nominated. The Minority will not have the opportunity to nominate who becomes Chief Justice. It is given to the President to do that, and the President says, ‘This is the one I want.’ You cannot tell the President that we don’t need this person. You can vet, probe, and ask as many questions as you want; you could have sat there to do that, but you didn’t,” he said.
He added that the Minority missed opportunities to raise concerns during both the vetting and approval processes.
“You boycotted the vetting. When they were approving him, you boycotted it. Now he is coming to Parliament, and you say you are boycotting it. No problem,” he added.
Mr Adorye concluded by encouraging the Chief Justice to continue discharging his duties in the national interest, regardless of the Minority’s actions.
“I will encourage the Chief Justice to go ahead and do whatever he thinks will help this country. And when they are in trouble and they come to him, he should sack them,” he said.
In recent weeks, Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie has undertaken a series of courtesy and institutional visits. He paid a courtesy call on Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang in Accra, where he briefed her on the judiciary’s achievements and priority initiatives, including efforts to decongest courts and expand Alternative Dispute Resolution services.
He also met the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, in a courtesy call aimed at strengthening collaboration between the Judiciary and the Finance Ministry, during which he raised concerns about court congestion and the need for improved working conditions within the judiciary.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com