The main opposition political party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has asked the Chief Justice to withdraw his disciplinary complaint against Dr Dominic Ayine.
The Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah has reported lawyer Dr. Dominic Ayine to the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council (GLC) for statements he allegedly made during a panel discussion on Presidential Election Petitions and their impact on Africa’s Democracy.
A copy of the petition, signed by the Judicial Secretary Justice Cynthia Pamela Addo, accuses Dr. Ayine of questioning the independence of the Judiciary due to the manner the Supreme Court adjudicated the 2020 presidential election petition.
The petition says Dr. Ayine’s basis for his assertion during the discussion is the Supreme Court’s failure to apply the rules of procedure as well as the consistent and continuous dismissal of the petitioner’s applications or reliefs.
“These comments are made against the backdrop of the Supreme Court discharging Dr. Ayine on a charge of contempt for similar comments made against members of the Supreme Court during the Election Petition hearing. Dr. Ayine apologized profusely when he appeared before the Court on the Contempt charge and admitted to having made comments which were unbecoming of a Lawyer of his standing and a former Deputy Attorney-General.”
“His Lordship the Chief Justice therefore finds his alleged disparaging comments totally unacceptable and would like you to investigate this matter further,” the petition said.
NDC reaction
Addressing a press conference in Accra Monday morning (June 21, 2021), the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr John Asiedu Nketiah said the complaint by the Chief Justice to the General Legal Council was an “intimidation.”
“According to my common sense, it doesn’t make sense to invite Dr Ayine to the Disciplinary Committee,” Mr Asiedu Nketiah said.
He said the action against Dr Ayine was “unjustified, it is but a symptom of a larger problem.”
“It is no coincidence that virtually all the lawyers who have reported to the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council by the Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah in recent times are aligned to the NDC. What is the Chief Justice’s personal interest in the punishment of NDC affiliated lawyers…, that he initiate unwarranted against them.”
“We dare say that such treatment will not be meted out to lawyers who are aligned to the NPP [New Patriotic Party] for reasons best known to the Chief Justice himself.”
Source: TheBBCghana.Com
