General News of Saturday, 23 November 2013

Source: peacefmonline.com

“Galamsey” Judges should be amenable to ‘Vikileaks’ probe - Bempah

Ernest Owusu Bempah, Deputy Communications Director of the National Democratic Party (NDP), has commended Chief Justice Georgina Wood for setting up a committee to look into the allegations against Nana Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection by former Deputy Minister for Communications, Ms. Victoria Hammah.

Nana Oye Lithur was alleged to have met with the Supreme Court Judges before the pronouncement of their landmark ruling on the NPP's presidential election petition.

This revelation generated controversy and the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) forwarded a petition to the Chief Justice to open investigations into the allegations.

The Chief Justice gave an indication that her outfit will look into the allegations to unearth the truth.

She has set up an eight-member Committee to investigate claims by the sacked Deputy Communications Minister, Ms. Hammah. The eight member Committee is chaired by Dr. Justice F.K Date-BaaH (rtd), a Justice of the Supreme Court.

Members of the Committee comprise current President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Nene A.O Amegatcher; Mrs Joyce N.N Oku; Mrs Aileen Odartey Laryea, the Attorney-General Madam Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong; a former President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Frank W.K. Beecham, Nana Dr S.K.B Asante and the Judicial Secretary, Alex Opoku-Acheampong as the Secretary to the Committee.

The Committee has been tasked by the CJ to submit its report to the Judicial Council within fourteen days after its sitting.

Speaking on Oman FM, Owusu Bempah slammed the Judges, labeling them as "galamsey" Judges and called on the Chief Justice not to renege on her effort to find out the truth.

He also called on the Judges to be amenable as investigations are held into the allegations.

“Those ‘galamsey’ Judges who sit there and refer to us (politicians) as ‘galamsey’ politicians. That we are the nation wreckers, and after that we would pick up our passports and exit the country. Those ‘galamsey’ Judges who also gave their verdict and took their passports and left the country…now, it is time for them to come back and respond…” the NDP firebrand said.