Mills Appoints 30 High Court Judges Within 18 Months

The effusions of Dr. Kwabena Adjei, National Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), to the effect that the Judiciary was being bias towards them (NDC), smacks of hypocrisy and ill-motive as records show that President John Evans Atta Mills has in a record time of eighteen months (18) of his presidency, appointed more judges than any other president under the 4th republican dispensation within the same time frame.

According to a source close to the judiciary, President Mills has appointed at least thirty (30) new High Court Judges as well as three (3) new Supreme Court Judges.

According to the source, the thirty new High Court Judges appointed by President Mills represent about 45% of High Court Judges as there are about 75 High Court Judges country wide.

The source further disclosed that, the President has also appointed three new Justices to beef up the Court of Appeal. Two of the newly appointed Appeal Court Judges, Justice Senyo Dzamefa and Mrs.Justice Agnes Mercy Abla Dordzie were promoted from the High Court while Mr. Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei, came from the Bar.

The three Justices who were promoted last year to the Supreme Court were Justice B.T Aryeetey, Justice S.N Gbadegbe and Justice Vida Akoto - Bamfo.

There are presently fourteen Justices of the Supreme Court, including the Chief Justice Mrs. Georgina Theodora Wood.

The source further disclosed that President Mills, a few weeks ago, swore in 16 new High Court Judges. Out of the number, according to the source, eleven were promoted from the Circuit Court while five came from the Bar. Those sworn in included Mrs. Justice Jennifer Akua Tagoe, Justice George Ato Mills-Granes, Justice Emmanuel Sameh, Ernest Obimpe, Justice Peter K wabena Ababio and Justice Baneford Acquah.

While in opposition, the NDC vigorously proposed a limit on the number of Justices to the Supreme Court. The appointment of the three Judges to the Supreme Court sent tongues wagging with some questioning the Mills led administration considering that there were then 11 Supreme Court Judges already and the constitutional requirement of at least nine Supreme Court Judges considered to be well within control.

Dr. K wabena Adjei, it would be recalled, at a press conference directed the Chief Justice Justice Georgina Wood to rid the Bench of corrupt judges or the NDC shall take steps to cleanse it for her. "We will clean it if they don't take steps to clean. We will clean it and let everybody everywhere blame us for interfering with the judiciary and we will take them on ... There are many ways to kill a cat", Dr. Adjei stated.

His statements came after several defeats were suffered by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mrs. Betty Mould Iddrisu over high profile cases brought against top political opponents accused of misappropriation of funds under the erstwhile Kufuor administration.

The infamous 'killing the cat' has apparently claimed its first casualty in Justice Anthony Oppong who recused himself from sitting on the murder of the Ya Na case after the Attorney General's office accused him of bias.

The judge, in recusing himself, challenged the Deputy Attorney General, Mr Ebo Barton Oduro to provide proof his allegations or render him an unqualified apology, denying ever making ,any of the comments attributed to him by the Deputy A-G.

"Barton Oduro, Esq accused me of being a drunkard and being irresponsible enough to have got to a drinking bar and under the influence of alcohol made prejudicial comments about this case. I vehemently deny this. I have never been to a drinking bar and made any comment whatsoever on this Yaa Naa's murder case. I challenge Barton Oduro Esquire to substantiate this allegation or render an unqualified apology to me for running me down," Mr Oppong noted.

Justice Oppong continued, "I have felt insulted, scandalised and indeed bastardized all in the name of the Attorney-General's office attempt to play politics with the Bench in general and with me in particular. I am no politician. I am a judge and have taken oath to dispense justice to all manner of persons irrespective of whatever."

Meanwhile, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice E.K. Ayebi, has been assigned the Ya-Na murder case. According to the Judicial Service, the case will now be heard at Fast Track Court Four.