Frances Essiam, an avowed critic of the ruling NDC and a sympathizer of the New Patriotic Party has called for legal action to be taken against the President John Evans Atta Mills.
According to her, the President subverted the constitution by ordering the IGP to provide security for a demonstration organized by the Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG), in spite of court order restraining the group.
AFAG penciled July 2, 2009 for their intended demonstration over what they say is the harsh economic conditions imposed by the government. But the police opposed the date for the demonstration, and called for a postponement, something the pressure group was not ready to accept. Consequently, the police sought a court order and which was granted, to restrain the pressure group from embarking on their intended demonstration.
Hours after the court order, the President issued a statement to the IGP ordering him to provide security for the intended demonstration. Ms Essiam told Citi news the President usurped the powers of the judiciary with his fiat. She called for legal remedies to be taken against the President and an impeachment if it is possible. She said nobody should be made to get away for flouting the constitution, much less the president who is an embodiment of the highest law of the land. In a rebuttal the spokesperson to the President, Mahama Ayariga said the President�s action was not illegal.
He contended the president�s order was to the police and not the court, adding the police forms part of the executive arm of government and whose activities fall within the domain of the president. He explained President Mills only asked the IGP to provide the police with the logistical support in order for the demonstrators to carry out their constitutional right. The spokesperson was shocked that the protesters have rather called off their intended demonstration and are calling for the president's impeachment. According to him, Ghanaians should rather be happy to have a President who is interested in promoting the fundamental human rights of its citizens.
<<Print>>