The Chairman of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee has expressed disappointment over remarks made by retired Supreme Court Justice William Atuguba, who questioned the party’s moral right to criticise the Supreme Court’s empaneling process.
According to Frank Davies, Justice Atuguba should remain quiet in retirement and refrain from making public comments that, in his view, undermine the judiciary.
Speaking on JoyFM’s on Wednesday, May 7, Mr. Davies stated that Justice Atuguba’s choice of words was unbecoming of someone who once served on the nation’s highest court.
“Justice Atuguba, don’t do this. He is now telling us that the Supreme Court is politicised. That is his language,” he said.
“The language Justice Atuguba uses on radio—‘rubbish’ and all that—for a Justice of the Supreme Court… I hold him in high regard. I have sat on the General Legal Council with him for many years and have learned so much from him. I would rather pray that Justice Atuguba stops these commentaries.”
His comments follow Justice Atuguba’s criticism of the NPP’s handling of the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
Speaking on JoyNews’ , Justice Atuguba dismissed the NPP’s reaction to the suspension as “rubbish,” stating that their posture merely advances a political narrative.
The Supreme Court, in a narrow 3–2 ruling delivered on Tuesday, dismissed a case brought by Old Tafo MP Ekow Vincent Assafuah. The case challenged President Mahama’s decision to suspend and initiate removal proceedings against the Chief Justice following allegations of misconduct.
“Scanning through the events in court, that is rubbish,” Justice Atuguba said, arguing that the NPP had raised no objections when Justice Torkornoo made rulings in their favour.
Mr. Davies further accused the retired judge of demonstrating political bias in favour of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), warning that his remarks risk damaging the credibility of sitting judges.
“Now, he is just trying to paint them with a brush. What he said was that if the panel had not been reconstituted, would we have had a 3-2 decision? Excuse me, Justice Atuguba, stop doing this to the judiciary,” he stated.
Addressing claims about recent Supreme Court decisions, Mr. Davies rejected allegations that Chief Justice Torkornoo had manipulated court panels to influence outcomes.
“These quarrels about unanimous decisions, and that when Justice Torkornoo was Chief Justice she empanelled justices to secure predetermined rulings, are simply not true,” he said.