Member of Parliament for lower Manya Krobo, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, has expressed the National Democratic Congress’s support to Dr Ayine.
According to him, the party’s support is premised on Dr Ayine’s role and duties undertaken on the ticket of the party.
His comments follow the former deputy Attorney-General’s insistence that, his comments regarding the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling on the 2020 election petition had no dire effects on the reputation of the Justices.
Dr Ayine’s position results from a petition filed by the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, requesting the investigation of Dr. Ayine for questioning the independence of the Judiciary during the election petition.
Reacting to this, Mr Terlabi intimated that, Dr Ayine spoke on the “issues that are known” so far as the judgement was concerned.
“Dr Ayine is in parliament on the ticket of the NDC. I’m very sure that CDD wouldn’t have invited him if he wasn’t the chairman of the said committee. So, if in the process some concerns are raised; I think the party has duty to also support his view. He was part of the legal committee that pursued that very issue at the Supreme Court. Therefore, it is not out of place for members of parliament, our side has also come out with a press release, we did a press conference in support of Ayine’s view.
“The party has a right to also do same. So, I don’t see anything wrong with that, it doesn’t mean that he needs help. We also have to show solidarity because we believe in what the gentleman said at the said forum”.
Nobody’s is above criticism
Also, Mr Terlabi maintained that, the judiciary like most institutions in the country is not above reproach. He further explained that, the views held by Dr Ayine is likely not to be different from other individuals.
“I think that nobody is above criticism. There’s no profession in this country which is above criticism unless they believe that they don’t make mistakes. Even in our law courts, there are instances where judgements are passed, other judges critique it and overturn [same]. How do we improve so far as our laws are concerned without subjecting them to proper criticisms?
“When you listen to Ayine, whatever he said wasn’t new. The judiciary must put its house in order”.
NDC backs Ayine’s claims
Prior to this, the General Secretary of the NDC, Asiedu Nketiah via a press conference, revealed that, the opinion expressed by Dr Ayine which the party shares in “does not violate any rule or Professional conduct rules for lawyers”.
According to him, the Chief Justice must be reminded that he is representing the people of the country. As such, public confidence in the independence of the judiciary “must therefore be earned and not forced on us”.
“The Judiciary, like Parliament or the Executive, is not above criticism. Indeed, it is worth recalling that the recent “Re-Akoto” event in Kumasi, where an address was delivered on behalf of the Chief Justice, was an event to criticize a sixty-year-old decision of the Supreme Court. The event was dominated by politicians of the New Patriotic Party stock who used the occasion to express their critical views freely”.
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