The Legal Adviser to Democracy in Progress, Andrew Appiah-Dankwa, has called for strict adherence to due process, judicial independence and equality before the law in investigations and prosecutions involving politically exposed persons.
He said lawful accountability should not be construed as an attack on democracy, stressing that no person should be persecuted because of politics, just as no person should escape lawful accountability because of political connections.
Mr Appiah-Dankwa made the call in Accra last Friday when Democracy in Progress, a non-partisan civic organisation, staged a demonstration from the Supreme Court to the Jubilee House to demand greater constitutional accountability and respect for due process.
Participants, who assembled at the Supreme Court around 8 a.m., wore white, which organisers said symbolised peace, constitutional order and civic responsibility.
They carried placards with messages including “Accountability Today, Integrity Tomorrow”, “One Law for All Ghanaians” and “Democracy is Not Impunity”.
The petition
Presenting a petition to the Supreme Court on behalf of the group, Mr Appiah-Dankwa said democracy was strengthened when public power was subjected to accountability, provided the process respected due process, equality before the law and judicial independence.
“We reject the proposition that a lawful investigation, prosecution, or conviction of a politically exposed person necessarily means that democracy is under attack,” he said.
He stressed that the demonstration was not intended to influence the Judiciary or interfere with pending cases.
“We have not come to ask the Chief Justice to interfere with any pending case, direct any judge, or secure a preferred judicial outcome,” he said, adding that the merits of every case and appeal must be determined independently on the evidence and the law.
The group also called for the presumption of innocence, access to legal representation, humane treatment, lawful bail and fair hearing for accused persons.
The demonstration followed what the group described as attempts to portray investigations, prosecutions and convictions involving politically exposed persons as evidence that Ghana’s democracy was under threat.
It referred to the recent demonstration by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), held on the theme, “Democracy Under Attack”, particularly concerns over prosecutions involving persons who served in or were associated with the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Petition received
The Judicial Secretary, Musah Ahmed, received the petition on behalf of the Chief Justice and thanked the demonstrators for using the constitutional process to present their concerns.
He said he would transmit the petition to the Chief Justice for consideration.
Mr Ahmed urged the demonstrators to remain peaceful and avoid disrupting the activities of businesses and other citizens.
“I have taken it in good faith.
I will deliver it,” he assured the group.
