General News of Saturday, 9 July 2016

Source: kasapafmonline.com

BNI has been unfair to Supreme Court – Dr Aning

Dr Kwasi Aning Dr Kwasi Aning

The Director of Research at the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Centre, Dr. Kwasi Anning has said the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) has unfairly treated the Supreme Court, following the release of its statement that claims that the two panelists who threatened the lives of Judges are harmless.

He has faulted the timing of the release of the statement few days ahead of the two men being hauled before the Supreme Court to justify why they should not be prosecuted.

Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn who appeared on Accra-based Montie FM last week threatened to kill some Supreme Court and High Court judges if they made any demeaning ruling against the Electoral Commission in the Abu Ramadan case.

The statement has been roundly condemned by a large section of the public and other Civil Society Organizations such as the Media Foundation for West Africa and the Ghana Bar Association.

But ahead of the hearing of their case on July 12, the BNI on Thursday released a statement claiming that at the interrogation, the two suspects admitted making those statements and acknowledged that their remarks were regrettable and unfortunate.

“Further checks by the BNI have however established that the suspects were incapable of carrying out pronouncements but did so in a show of needless bravado.”

However speaking on Joy FM Friday, the Dr Kwasi Anning stated that the BNI by this statement has in a way boxed the Supreme Court into a corner; a situation which may affect the manner in which they will rule on the matter.

“I think the statement is unfair to the court and once small says look; we’ve done our own investigations we don’t think there is very much to this and therefore the people if they appear before you, hopefully you’ll also arrive at this conclusion.

“It is important that critical institutions of state perform their duties and functions in a manner that does not undermine the integrity of the other. I think that is very important particularly as we head for a crucial election, all these institutions have to work in harmony and in sync to ensure that the sanctity of the Ghanaian state is kept intact.”