General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia has advised Chief Justice Kwesi Anin-Yeboah to temporarily quit his position pending investigations into the $5million bribery allegation levelled against him.
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He believes with the Chief Justice still at office with this allegation hanging over his head, “there is the school of thought that he will influence investigations into the matter.”
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“We need the Chief Justice to step down for investigations to go on. He is now in a position of authority and it is feared he might influence the outcome of investigations. He needs to step down for his deputy to take charge. This is the only way to ensure transparency,” he said in a press conference monitored by Happy98.9FM’s Epa Hoa Daben political talk show.
He argues Chief Justice Kwesi Anin-Yeboah will be vindicated if he really is innocent of this allegation.
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On his accord, the government must launch an official enquiry into this case and “make sure there is transparency just like the Jacob Zuma trial in South Africa.”
Reacting to news of the Chief Justice having lodged a complaint with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police on this allegation, Asiedu Nketia said, “Everyone has the right to report cases to the CID but the answers we need cannot be unearthed by them.”
The Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah has rejected claims that he demanded an amount of $5 million to supposedly influence a court case.
He has subsequently petitioned the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the allegation made against him by Akwasi Afrifa, a lawyer and also directed that a petition should be lodged with the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council in respect of the specific matter.
“His Lordship has directed that a formal complaint be made to the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service for investigations and the necessary action,” the petition signed by the Judicial Secretary, Justice Cynthia Pamela Addo said.
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Akwasi Afrifa had alleged that the Chief Justice had demanded a US$5 million bribe to allegedly influence the outcome of a court case.
The lawyer made this allegation in response to a petition filed against him by his client at the disciplinary committee of the General Legal Council (GLC).
The client – Ogyeedom Obranu Kwesi Atta VI dragged Akwasi Afrifa to the GLC for allegedly taking US$100,000 from him but failing to ensure he gets a favourable judgement on his case as promised.
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Akwasi Afrifa in his response denied these claims, saying his client rather asked him to refund an amount of GH¢300,000 paid as legal fees to enable him to raise a US$5 million bribe for the Chief Justice in order to get a favourable decision in a pending legal dispute – an allegation the latter has denied.
