A representative group of Ghanaians abroad has said the judicial arm of Ghana�s democratic governance will do great injustice to Ghanaians both home and abroad, if it restricts the audience of the proceedings to a handful of accredited people, when deciding the legitimate presidency of the republic of Ghana in the Supreme Court.
The group known as Ghanaians abroad for open justice (GHAFOJ), which believes in Open Justice as a principle of the common law that proceedings ought to be open to the general public, including the contents of court files and public viewing of trials, has presented a petition to her ladyship the Chief Justice, of Ghana, Theodora Wood to review her decision not to permit live coverage of proceedings of the petition challenging the validity of the election of John Dramani Mahama as president of the republic of Ghana, pursuant to the presidential election held on 7th and 8th December 2012, which is before the Supreme Court of Ghana and expected to commence on 16th April 2013.
In their petition jointly sent by Mr. Kobby Annan and Ms. Mary Eileen Posh-Oduro, co-coordinators for the group, attached with 500 signatures, and copied to the legal teams of petitioners, respondents, and other stake holders, GHAFOJ pointed out that Kenyans have earned the admiration of the world not only by their swift handling of their presidential election challenge, but also for allowing live telecasts of the proceedings in court, in accordance to the principles of open justice. Africa and the world at large will surely credit the quality of Ghana�s Judiciary and democracy at the utilisation of TV cameras on these proceedings.
They said Ghanaians living abroad took leave of their jobs and families to travel to Ghana in 2012, just to register biometrically and later traveled home to participate in the disputed December 2012 elections which were held in the open. Therefore it is only justifiable and fair that the judiciary deals effectively with any allegations of fraud, irregularities, and violations regarding the elections in the open, to avoid suspicion and political tension in the country. The group asks to be informed in real time on the dynamics of the proceedings, to enable all Ghanaians form their own opinion first hand to evade the usual twist and spin by various media houses and most political party activists.
GHAFOJ believes every citizen of Ghana and the world at large should be able to follow and believe that justice is being conducted fairly in the open, through live telecast. It further argued that all over in our modern world, the employment of television cameras within the court system have produced positive results in relation to the public�s comprehension and appreciation of the judiciary process as well as to train others who are specialising in the area of law.
�We therefore appeal to you to reconsider your initial decision and to permit the presence of at least three TV stations (One state owned and Two privately owned) to cover the proceedings. � GHAFOJ concluded in their petition.
Ghanaians Abroad For Open Justice (GHAFOJ)
The Netherlands
0031685124926
Source: Ghanaians Abroad For Open Justice (GHAFOJ)
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