Naagyei 90.3 Fm Agyapa
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has asked the opposition NDC Member of Parliament for Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak, to substantiate claims of bribery against a Supreme Court judge or retract it immediately.
According to the GBA, it finds the allegations “offensive and distasteful”.
“The Bar has read and viewed with great concern, accusations made in the media in recent times with respect to the judiciary, the bar finds the allegations offensive and distasteful. They incite hatred among the public with regard to judges, expose them to ridicule, and put them into disrepute,” the GBA president Anthony Forson said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Chief Justice has called on Hon. Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka to assist with investigations into the allegations of bribery against a Judge in the election of the Speaker of Parliament.
According to the Asawase lawmaker, a Supreme Court judge tried to influence the outcome of the Speakership elections for the 8th Parliament.
Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka who was speaking on JoyNews’ The Probe on Sunday, alleged that a very prominent judge contacted an NDC MP; offering an inducement should the person vote in favour of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Speaker nominee, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye.
He contended that although the judge’s motive was not achieved, the party will probe the issue and take the appropriate steps if necessary.
“Shamefully, a Supreme Court judge called a lady colleague telling her what they will give her, if she votes for Prof Mike Oquaye. He told her that, they will help her take care of her children, she can take fuel from a filling station for free for the next four years.
“So we [NDC] are going to look into it. We will look at the time he made those calls,” he stated.
In a reaction to the allegations made by the Asawase lawmaker, the chief Justice considers this allegation of impropriety a matter of grave import to the integrity of the Judiciary and has initiated a full swing investigation into it.
“The Hon. Chief Justice is therefore-taking steps to solicit the assistance of Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka MP, to establish the facts in order that the matter can be dealt with appropriately.
“The public will be apprised of any further developments in due course.”
