Opinions of Saturday, 27 April 2013

Columnist: Pobee-Mensah, Tony

This circus going on in the Supreme Court of Ghana

I remember a case in which a physician found out through DNA that all of his children were fathered by his friend who was also a physician. If I am not mistaking, the man had two or three children and they were grown. He went to court along with his children to seek restitution for child support. The judge dismissed the case saying that despicable as the case was, it was not going to do anyone any good to go back and revisit the issue. Unfair, yes but sometimes life rolls that way.

Ghana will not be damaged if Nana Akufo Addo does not become President. Nana Addo will not be damaged if he does not become President. I think there is a potential for some damage to the Country and some Ghanaians. Our Supreme Court would have been in the right if they had weighed the country's interest against the defendants' and dismissed the case before it got this far for the greater good. Sure it would have deprived our justices this great opportunity to be in the circus; the greatest show on earth.

At this point, not only does it look like this circus will not end any time soon, it looks like we are quickly approaching a "catch 22" situation. Absurd as it may sound, I think the Supreme Court should reverse herself and dismiss the case in the name of national good.

No, it will not be easy. Yes, there will probably be some street disturbances, but I think having some disturbances now rather than a big blow up at a point when both sides have convinced themselves that their cases have been proven and all that is left is for the court to sign on to their perceived conclusion and the court comes up with a different decision.

The judges have had their 15 minutes of fame and from the look of things they have enjoyed it. The only thing is that the 15 minutes is turning to everlasting. Now the whole country will recognize them in the streets as Supreme Court Judges when a few weeks ago this would not have been the case. It is easy in this situation to think "National interest be damned" but the judges will have to live in the country good or bad. My money will go on ending the charade now and save the country: Any wise man to take my advice?

Tony Pobee-Mensah