Attorney General Dares Critics

Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo- Addo has challenged individuals and political parties who have criticised the Chief Justice’s decision to empanel 11 Judges during the review on constitutionality of Fast Track Court, to cite an occasion in the legal history of the Supreme Court when reviews of decision were not decided by expanded panels.

He said in the case of the recent decision on the Fast Track Courts, it was only proper for the Judicial Service to prompt government to appoint a Judge to increase the number of the Supreme Court Judges from 10 to 11. Nine judges sat on the first case.

Nana Akuffo-Addo who was addressing Southern-Sector District Chief Executives (DCEs) meeting at Ho for a mid-year review meeting said the decision was justified by the entrenched positions of the judges as shown by the review judgement. "Going back, therefore, to the same panel for a review would have been an attempt in futility".

The Supreme Court by a 6-5 majority on Wednesday, reversed its earlier decision and declared Fast Track Courts as constitutional. Two new Judges who were empanelled during the review voted in favour of Fast Track Courts and this has generated debate from sections of the public, especially with regards to the appointment of Justice Afreh by the NPP government recently.

But Nana Akuffo Addo said the two swing votes were delivered by competent Justices appointed by two different governments: Mr Justice George Lamptey by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and Mr. Justice Kwame Afreh by the Kufuor government.

Earlier, Mr. Kwasi Owusu-Yeboah, Volta Regional Minister said the Fast Track Courts were only meant to use modern techniques to facilitate proceedings without violating the norms of fair trial.