At the heart of growing concerns over judicial independence in Ghana, Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has issued a passionate call to the judiciary to safeguard the sanctity of the justice system.
Addressing demonstrators at the ongoing Save the Judiciary protest before submitting a petition to the Judicial Secretary, the outspoken lawmaker warned against what he described as creeping executive overreach and political manipulation of the courts.
“As a practitioner of the court. I’m humbly calling on all judges, all judicial services to think deeply about tomorrow. Not to be too comfortable because today, some government officials are promising judicial service staff and judges of promotion. So you are comfortable. You don’t want to speak up. We will speak up for the sake of posterity.”
Hon. Alexander Afenyo Markin, MP for Effutu and Minority leader
The Minority Leader’s remarks were underscored by his alarm over a perceived culture of fear and manipulation within the judiciary.
He referenced the case involving Kwabena Adu Boahene, a former head of the National Signal Bureau, to illustrate his concerns.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the judge presiding over the case was transferred, and subsequently, the Attorney General invoked “exceptional circumstances” to reverse bail conditions and remand the accused.
This move, the Effutu Member of Parliament believes, was a troubling sign of undue executive influence over judicial processes.
“What is happening? Let’s be careful. As a nation, all we have is our democracy. Should things get out of hand, we may not be able to control it. So I’m signaling, as a political class, we need to proceed with caution.”
Hon. Alexander Afenyo Markin, MP for Effutu and Minority leader
His remarks come at a time when questions are being raised about the state of the judiciary’s independence, the appointment and removal of judges, and the broader democratic implications of perceived executive encroachment on the judicial arm of government.
NDC’s “Misplaced Priorities”
Beyond his warnings to the judiciary, Hon. Afenyo-Markin also criticised what he described as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government’s misplaced priorities.
He claimed that while the country grapples with widespread youth unemployment and a failing economy, the government appears more concerned with consolidating power and silencing dissenting voices.
He accused the current administration of abandoning its key electoral promise—the much-publicised 24-hour economy—stating that it was absent from both the 2025 State of the Nation Address and the 2025 budget statement.
Instead, he alleged, the government is preoccupied with partisan purges, including the dismissal of senior military officers and the termination of young public servants and workers in state-owned enterprises perceived to be politically misaligned.
“We now have two Ghanas. The Ghana for the NDC that is in government and then a Ghana for others who are seen as enemies. This is not a revolution. It’s a democracy.”
Hon. Alexander Afenyo Markin, MP for Effutu and Minority leader
The Minority Leader’s remarks were met with cheers from protestors, many of whom carried placards demanding respect for judicial independence and denouncing political persecution.
The Save the Judiciary demonstration was organised to express solidarity with the suspended Chief Justice and demand her reinstatement and an end to alleged political interference in judicial matters.
In concluding his address, Hon. Afenyo-Markin formally submitted a petition to the Judicial Secretary, urging the Judicial Council to take seriously the concerns raised by the political opposition.
“I am humbly, on behalf of your fellow citizens, presenting this petition to you as a judicial secretary for your consideration. Read the content, table it before the Judicial Council. Every staff member, every member of the judiciary must read this”.
Hon. Alexander Afenyo Markin, MP for Effutu and Minority leader
His speech adds to a growing chorus of voices calling for institutional integrity and non-partisan justice in Ghana.
READ ALSO: OPEC+ Moves to Restore 2.2 million bpd Amid Weak Oil Prices
