Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu, Attorney General and Minister of Justice-esignate has confessed, though not explicitly, that it was unconstitutional for Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni to have extended the curfew in Bawku.
The minority has always insisted the action by Alhaji Mumuni who was then the president’s representative at the Interior Ministry was unconstitutional, but this was contested by the executive.
But in a grueling session of vetting by the Appointment Committee of Parliament which lasted well over an hour, Mrs Betty Mould in a last gasp response on the issue said “I am hot.â€Â
She was answering a question posed by minority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, on the constitutionality of Mohammed Mumuni’s actions when he renewed curfews at Bawku and Gushiegu.
She was saved by the bell with a swift intervention by the Committee Chairman Edward Doe Adjaho who prevented her from answering the question which from all indications would have done substantial damage.
According to him it was an unfair question to ask the nominee.
Betty Mould’s vetting appeared to be one of the most controversial as it was dogged with accusations of bias by the minority, heckling and the show of power by the chairman.
Atta Akyea, MP for Abuakwa South referred to an alleged statement by Mrs Mould that the erstwhile Kufuor administration manipulated the judiciary and referred to the courts as “kangaroo†courts.
But the nominee explained the comments were made in a particular context and should not be misinterpreted.
She argued the timing of appointment of judges by the president and limitless number of judges who sit on the Supreme Court cases raises perceptions of manipulations by the executive.
She pledged to take steps to amend portions of the constitution to give a definite number of judges to sit on cases at the Supreme Court if given the nod
On the controversial law of causing financial law to the state, Mrs Betty Mould said the law must stay but needs to be well-defined under the criminal code.
Story by Nathan Gadugah