IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe has jabbed the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) over their response to a directive aimed at speeding up cases involving alleged theft of public funds.
In a post shared on social media, Mr Cudjoe questioned why some lawyers who had previously complained about delays in court cases were opposed to the decision to allow courts handling such matters to sit during the legal vacation.
He said the move by the Chief Justice was meant to ensure that justice was delivered without unnecessary delays.
“Some lawyers for alleged thieves of our money have been lamenting over judicial delays involving their clients. The very generous Chief Justice rushes to their aid and directs that all courts hearing cases of grave theft of public money should sit throughout the legal vacation so that justice is done expeditiously,” he wrote.
However, Franklin Cudjoe said the reaction from some members of the legal team surprised him.
“The lawyers’ response? ‘How dare you, Chief Justice, for suggesting such thoughtless idea? We won’t come to court during legal vacation,’” he added.
The IMANI Africa founder also criticised a former Attorney General, accusing him of taking a different position when he was in government.
He argued that the former minister previously supported extended court sittings when cases involving political opponents were before the courts.
“He had forgotten that just two years ago, as AG, he theatrically conducted the high court to sit daily until his political rivals were handed sentences and thrown in jail,” Mr Cudjoe stated.
He added that the current criticism against Chief Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie was unfair.
“Today as he is unable to orchestrate and direct a legal cantata and so he dares Chief Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie,” he wrote.
