Judiciary Under Fire: Tsatsu Tsikata warns of democracy threat amid perceived NPP bias

Accra, Ghana - Nov 11, 2024 - Renowned legal practitioner Tsatsu Tsikata has raised concerns over Ghana's judiciary potentially favoring the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), warning of dire consequences for the country's democracy.

His remarks come as the 2024 Mo Ibrahim Index on African Governance reveals a significant decline in Ghana's judicial autonomy, dropping from 100% to 50% over seven years.

In an interview on GHOne TV, Tsikata emphasized how perceptions of judicial bias undermine public trust and impact the entire legal profession. "If people lose confidence in the judiciary, it's also a loss of confidence in the legal profession," he noted. Tsikata finds it troubling that many Ghanaians perceive the judiciary as biased towards the NPP, with some even jokingly referring to it as a "unanimous football club".

Tsikata cautioned that these perceptions, though lighthearted, pose a danger to the nation. He stressed the importance of an impartial judiciary, urging leaders and policymakers to restore and safeguard the institution's independence, especially as Ghana approaches the 2024 general elections.

“Ordinary citizens jokingly refer to the judiciary as a ‘unanimous football club,’ deciding cases in favour of one side. This creates a dangerous precedent where people lose faith in the judicial process altogether,'' he added.

Source: Lead News Online