Parliament would soon take a decision on the contemptuous statements attributed to Hon. John Oti Bless after he was accused of making denigrating comments against the Chief Justice on a radio show.
The Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North is alleged to have said the Chief Justice Georgina Woode is unfit for the job and an agent of the New Patriotic Party.
In a statement copied to Peacefmonline.com, Richard Asante Yeboah, a Ghanaian citizen has petitioned the august house of Parliament to disprove the nomination of Hon. John Oti Bless as Deputy Minister for Local Government.
According to him, “This call has become extremely important looking at the role of parliament in consolidating our young democratic experience, the approval of the Nominee would be a big blow to our infant democracy, especially the role of the Judiciary as an integral part of our democracy.”
Statement Below
Hon Edward Doe Adjaho
The Right Honourable Speaker
Parliament of Ghana.
Dear Sir,
PETITION AGAINST THE PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL OF THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE HON JOHN OTI BLESS AS DEPUTY MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Right Honourable Speaker; please stop processes towards the approval of Hon John Oti Bless as a Deputy Minister for Local Government.
This call has become extremely important looking at the role of parliament in consolidating our young democratic experience, the approval of the Nominee would be a big blow to our infant democracy, especially the role of the Judiciary as an integral part of our democracy.
This would further undermine the sanctity and authority of the Legal system.
Sir, the Hon. Member was heard audibly on Montie Fm on the 24th of June castigating the Chief Justice and the Judiciary in a manner that is unbecoming of Hon members of parliament in this republic.
In my humble opinion, approval by this August House could be misconstrued to mean a tacit endorsement of his rather unfortunate conduct against the Judiciary.
Below are some of the unfortunate comments made by the Nominee against the Respectable Judges of the Superior Court.
“Today we have a CJ who because of a Political favour done her will do anything to help the NPP. It is an agenda. The electoral commission should stop working and give it to Georgina Woode.
Why? Meddling in the affairs of the Electoral Commission. And we have a whole CJ, look at how old you are; you have kids and grandchildren and yet you are at the Court doing politics; you deliberately appoint NPP Judges to do politics and scheme with NPP to give biased rulings. Are you not calling for war? Are you not calling for civil war? Are you not destroying this country?”, he said
After making several other disparaging comments, John Oti Bless, whose vetting is currently on hold, indicated that the CJ has to be watched and suggested that the CJ was part of a plot to kidnap a child of Tony Lithur, who was Counsel for John Mahama during the 2013 Election Petition case.
“We have to watch this Chief Justice. My brother Mugabe, I am telling you, when you go to the Supreme Court today, the Chief Justice is fighting one worker all because of politics. Let me give you a last filla.
Do you know that during the Election Petition case, these people made a plot to kidnap a child of Tony Lithur, who was lawyer for our Excellency John Mahama so he would not concentrate on the case?”
It is instructive to recall, that one of the jailed panelists, Godwin Ako Gunn, referred to these submissions by Hon John Oti Bless and based on them to make the comments that has seen him jailed for contempt.
Sir, beyond quoting some sections of the Hon John Oti Bless's rather unfortunate submission on Montie Fm, I have equally added 10 copies of the audio emanating from the programme to enable your good office listen to it firsthand.
I believe this would then help you make value judgment on this rather scandalous conduct and comments by the Nominee.
Right Hon Speaker, the conduct and pronouncements of the Nominee is seen by many well meaning Ghanaians to be abusive to the character and personality of Her lordship the lady chief Justice and has severely bruised the reputation of all decent Judges, which has subsequently caused greater disaffection for our democracy
It is my cherished hope that parliament would not endorsed this total affront to our democracy and which would be a further spit in the face of the lady Chief and the Judiciary.
A situation that shouldn't be encouraged by any of the arms of government, most especially our respected law makers.
Richard Asante Yeboah.
cc.
The Majority leader.
The Minority leader.
The Inspector General of Police
Association of Judges and Magistrates.
The Chief Justice.
Ghana Bar Association.
The National Peace Council.
National Chief Imam.
The Catholic Bishop Conference.
Former President Rawlings
Former President Kufour
Christian Council of Ghana
National house of chiefs.
Former U.N. Secretary General Mr. Kofi Anane
All Media Houses.
Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/ email: [email protected]
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