The Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Gabby Otchere-Darko has stated that although he is sorry for the use of the word �timid� in describing a ruling by the Judges of the Supreme Court, his position on the said issue remains unchanged.
Mr. Otchere-Darko in an article titled �Supreme Court shows its timidity in Mornah case� opined that the judiciary was still susceptible to legislative and executive control.
�I stand by the article and I think the Judge, Justice Gbadegbe also acknowledged that they are open to criticism but that it has to be done in a civil way and I accept that the use of the word �timidity� came across as uncivil to the Judges,� he said.
This follows a Supreme Court ruling in a case filed by General Secretary of the People's National Convention, (PNC) Bernard Monah challenging the Court�s earlier ruling allowing hearing of a petition against a presidential election on daily basis, including public holidays.
The Supreme Court ruled in Mornah�s favor stating that it was unconstitutional to sit on holidays and further declared that Article 71B as well as Constitutional Instruments (CI) 71 and 65, are unconstitutional
However, before the commencement of the election petition case hearing on Monday, a member of the panel of Judges, Justice Nasiru Gbadegbe took an exception to Mr. Otchere-Darko�s comments describing it as an unwarranted criticism which according to them has the tendency of undermining their authority as Judges.
But speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, Mr. Otchere-Darko mentioned that he is �remorseful of it and I apologize but I stand by the article.�
According to him, he has always been outspoken about matters of public concern but was quick to add that �I don�t want the import of what I am saying to be somehow overtaken by a word which has not gone unwell.�
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