General News of Tuesday, 9 October 2012

Source: Kelvin Dartey

My PNDC background will not affect my work- Justice Appau

Justice Yaw Appau has brushed aside claims that his previous allegiance to the erstwhile Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) administration would impede his work as a Sole Commissioner appointed to investigate judgment debts paid by the state over the years.

The Appeals Court judge was yesterday sworn in by President John Dramani Mahama as a Sole Commissioner with the mandate to examine judgment debts and negotiated settlements in the country from 1992.

Speaking on Peace FM's morning show programme on Tuesday, the astute judge branded the assertion as spurious, unwarranted and concocted designed to dent his hard won reputation over the years.

“Yes, it is true that I served under the PNDC, [now ruling as the NDC] as a deputy secretary in the Brong Ahafo Region, but after joining the legal profession I decide to stop politics and do my work professionally, and at the time I was working people like former President Kufuor and others were all serving in the same government.

So the hue and cry over my appointment is not important at this stage. I have a record and reputation to protect so I can assure Ghanaians that I will work to the best of my ability without any considerations and partiality,” Justice Yaw Appau retorted.

He, therefore, seized the opportunity to thank the president for the confidence reposed in him and assured that he would work assiduously to submit a viable report for consideration.

Justice Yaw Appau is expected to submit his report within a year.

The appointment of the Sole Commissioner is in fulfillment of President Mahama's promise when he delivered his policy statement a couple of weeks ago and affirmed his commitment to run a transparent and accountable governance devoid of corruption.