Ghanaian politicians talk too much – Judge

The sole Commissioner for the Judgement Debt Commission, Justice Yaw Apau, has slammed Ghanaian politicians for talking too much even about matters they have very little knowledge.

Justice Apau said he was amazed how politicians, including parliamentarians would speak authoritatively on issues they themselves acknowledge not to be very conversant with, particularly when invited to speak on radio.

His admonishing followed a complaint by former Energy Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah, that he (Kan-Dapaah) had been reported by The Informer newspaper to have ‘seen’ the judge on the quiet to plead for leniency at his invitation to appear before the Commission in relation to the sale of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC’s) drill ship.

It is one of the things that make Ghana interesting, the judge said on Monday while hearing Kan-Dapaah’s side of the disputed sale. He was later to add that perhaps it is how sections of the Ghanaian public understand democracy - that they can say just anything.

Mr. K.T. Hammond, former Deputy Minister for Energy who also appeared before the commission on the same issue, also complained how he had been misreported, and sometimes criminalised by sections of the media, for his perceived role in the drill ship sale.