Political analyst and former New Patriotic Occasion (NPP) presidential candidate Dr. Arthur Kennedy has declared that the New Patriotic Occasion (NPP) won’t be given the possibility to manipulate Ghana once more.
He mentioned the occasion had no regret and warned {that a} return to energy might undermine public confidence within the nation’s judicial system.
Dr Kennedy made the remarks in Newsfile whereas discussing the affect of political energy on Ghana’s authorized system and the continuing debate surrounding plea bargaining in high-profile legal circumstances.
Dr Kennedy’s feedback got here after he steered that politically linked people typically profit from a change of presidency, prompting host Samson Lardi to ask if he was primarily arguing that the NPP mustn’t return to energy.
“Properly, it’s a complete new present. The NPP, as at the moment constituted, is unrepentant and due to this fact not eligible to return to energy, however it’s a totally different present.”
Earlier within the dialogue, Dr Kennedy warned that modifications in political energy might have an effect on the trajectory of high-profile legal prosecutions.
“The final word instance is that when the federal government modifications, if Wontumi and the opposite individuals we’re making a fuss about about Oral and others discover out that the NPP is in energy in 2028, God forbid, most of their issues can be resolved, whether or not they’re responsible or harmless.”
His remarks have been made within the context of plea discount discussions reportedly involving Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly often known as Chairman Wontumi.
Dr. Kennedy argued that whereas plea bargaining is a reputable authorized instrument, it should not create the notion that influential individuals can evade justice.
“Legal and punitive fines should be on the desk. However in a scenario the place the federal government itself introduced earlier that it’s as much as the legal professional normal’s discretion whether or not to just accept a few of these plea offers, a scenario the place individuals win in court docket and as an alternative of thanking the judiciary, they thank the Asantehene and the president, and why? Politics looms giant within the background, given the random indictments with out accountability for a way they’re introduced.Now that we’re free, it’s pure for the general public to be involved about whether or not our authorized system is geared in direction of the highly effective or the weak.
He mentioned Ghana’s justice system must exhibit that politically linked people are held to the identical requirements as extraordinary residents convicted of much less severe crimes.
“I believe we should always comply with the type of retribution confronted by cassava and poultry thieves. I additionally don’t assume massive individuals ought to get away with it simply because they’re massive and well-connected.”
In response to a query whether or not plea bargaining is a authorized proper afforded to all defendants, Dr Kennedy acknowledged that entry to justice in Ghana is usually decided by the power to pay for authorized illustration.
“Our justice system clearly depends on the power to rent legal professionals. What I am saying is that we are not working a system the place even if you happen to’re harmless, if you happen to’re highly effective and well-connected, you’ll be able to rob the state after which dribble away.”
