Confusion in Kumasi over FTCs

If the perception of people in Kumasi about the Fast Track Courts is to be measured countrywide, then the feeling of the people may be summarised in Lord Kenya’s latest album “yeegye yen three points”. And why not?

To them whether or not the Fast Track Court is constitutional does not matter. The government must be the winner. A Network Herald random poll among residents 19 to 60 years in age revealed that most of them see the system as the only answer to quick justice.

Indeed Ashanti Regional Public Affairs Rep for SSNIT D Antwi Berko puts it at “in fact if we maintain this unconstitutionality of the FTC, then there is no positive change”.

He like many residents contends that the 5-4 verdict was deplorable. “There is no lie in the FTC, it’s up to you the plaintiff to prove your innocence” arguing further that “ evidences are taken before one is jailed and the FTC is to do just that”

Group Chartered Accountant I K Agyeman has strong reservations against the Supreme Court verdict because “ the only difference between the normal court and the FTC is the computer proceedings so it is not something that should result in a 5-4 verdict. Moreso when you consider that these very judges ask for money to project the FTC in other parts of the country”.

To most of the respondents the constitutionality of FTC is not an issue because government must be the victor and almost insist that it was the same courts that were used to jail Mallam Issa and Victor Selormey with “correct and reliable evidence”.

And to the informed mind, businessman Frank Asante minced no words in asserting that “the Attorney-General has the maximum support of Ghanaians concerning the review and we know that at the end of the day, the three points will be ours. If the PNDC is legal then the FTC should be too”.