Former Gomoa West Member of Parliament, Alexander Abban, has urged political actors to exercise restraint in their public comments on court rulings, warning that such remarks could undermine public confidence in Ghana’s judiciary.
According to him, the practice of politicians either criticising or praising the judiciary depending on whether court decisions favour their interests poses a threat to the credibility of the justice system.
Speaking on Saturday, August 1, Abban stressed the need for politicians to be measured in their public commentary on judicial matters to ensure that Ghanaians continue to trust the courts.
“Politicians themselves should refrain from bastardising the judiciary. Otherwise, before we realise, we, by our own utterances, would get Ghanaians to lose faith in the judiciary,” he said.
Abban explained that both major political parties have, at different times, contributed to the perception that the judiciary is influenced by political interests, often depending on whether they are in government or in opposition.
He noted that parties frequently defend the judiciary when judgments are in their favour but criticise the same institution when outcomes do not align with their expectations.
“What is playing out is because at one time or the other, those in government now may have said something bad against the judiciary, those not in government now may have said something in favour of the judiciary, and at a time that they were also not in government, they may have said something bad against the judiciary,” he added.
His comments come in the wake of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) criticism of the Court of Appeal’s decision to acquit and discharge former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Christine Tamakloe-Attionu.
On Thursday, July 30, the Court of Appeal overturned an earlier High Court ruling that had sentenced Tamakloe-Attionu to 10 years in prison over offences related to the management of MASLOC funds.
The NPP described the appellate court’s decision as politically motivated, alleging that the outcome had been deliberately orchestrated.
However, Abban maintained that disagreements with judicial decisions should be pursued through the appropriate legal channels rather than through political commentary that could cast doubt on the integrity of the courts.
He further emphasised that preserving the independence, credibility and reputation of the judiciary is a shared responsibility, particularly for political leaders whose public statements have a significant influence on public perception.
