Accra, June 9, GNA - A pressure group, The Forum for Governance and Justice, on Thursday petitioned the Chief Justice to stop the wanton victimization of the four lawyers who made comments about corruption in the judiciary.

"We believe that they exercised their inalienable right to free speech and should not be prevented from practicing their profession from which they derive their livelihood and also that the clients of these lawyers should not be denied their constitutional right to a lawyer of their choice," The Forum for Governance and Justice said in a petition on the blacklisting of lawyers by the judges and magistrates.

The petition, which was presented by Dr Clement A. Appak, was received on behalf of the Chief Justice by Mr John Bosco Nabarese, a Deputy Judicial Secretary.

The group said it was making the demand in full knowledge that the General Legal Council, the only body that could debar lawyers, had not heard them.

The group was formed in the wake of the decision of the Association of Magistrates and Judges to boycott cases involving the lawyers, Dr Raymond Atuguba, Mr Abraham Amaliba, Mr Laary Bimi and Mr David Annan because they said there is corruption in the judiciary.

The petition was signed by Dr. Clement A. Apaak and Dr. Samuel C. K. Buame.

The Forum says it is a non-partisan, non-religious, non-governmental and non-profit organisation whose mission is to promote and protect the right of the citizenry to justice and to improve governance in Ghana.

The Forum urged the Chief Justice to encourage the Judicial Council to set up an independent enquiry to invite members of the public to submit complaints about corruption within the judiciary.

"Citizens of Ghana willing to come forward should be given immunity to encourage them to submit complaints especially about their personal experiences with our courts."

The Forum also urged the Chief Justice to initiate 93credible and measurable actions" to ensure that judicial accountability was entrenched in order to exorcise the canker of corruption, which had bedevilled the institution and ensure the absolute independence of the judiciary which was a non-negotiable principle underpinning any good justice delivery system.

It said the Chief Justice should ensure that the Association of Magistrates and Judges did not become a threat to judicial independence as it appeared to be becoming, adding that there was also the need for a review of the Association's mandate as it appeared to have become a Labour Union which Judges and Magistrates are not allowed to form.

Mr Nabarese said he would forward the petition to the Chief Justice.