Another point of view

There are a number of issues that I have been turning over in my head wondering when as a people, Ghanaians, we would objectively assess all the issues that we are confronted with from national perspectives rather than with politically partisan spectacles.

For now, I want to bring into the open, four of the issues that have been bothering me.

Supreme Court

One of the issues is the unnecessary politicisation of the proposed appointment of new justices to the Supreme Court, by the National Democratic Congress. The concomitant of the excessive partisan discourse is the promise by the presidential aspirant of the party, John Dramani Mahama, to cap the membership of the apex court, without any assurance that the factors that inhibit the court from making the desired impact would be looked at.

The statement often made that " justice delayed is justice denied," which might have prompted the Chief Justice upon advice and thorough discussion with relevant bodies, to seek additional hands, does not feature in this populist pledge.

There are some who argue for a clearly defined number of justices for the Supreme Court in line with best practices elsewhere. However, such calls are not often accompanied by similar demands for the review of the  scope of matters which could appear before the court, also in consonance with best practice.

 It is easy to make references to the United States, without admitting that in the US, there are state Supreme Courts beyond the Federal Supreme Court. In that jurisdiction also, not every matter of appeal comes before their apex court. However, in the Ghanaian context, all matters, except parliamentary election disputes, could end up at the Supreme Court.

But what is intriguing is that our primary interest about the professionalism and competence of our judges, is drawn away from when such individuals were appointed as justices of the Superior Courts of adjudication, but narrowly focussed on when they were appointed to the highest court of the land. Just take the case of former Chief Justice Sophia Akufo, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings.

When it became necessary for her to be  appointed as the Chief Justice,it was described by some as political patronage, rather than a concomitant of dedicated and selfless hard work.

Review

Another matter of significance is the promise of Mr John Alan Kwadwo Kyeremateng, to review the tenure of office of the Executive and possibly the Legislature, from four to five years ,knowing that these provisions are entrenched and would of necessity require a national referendum. He made the promise whilst commenting about empty campaign promises.

Ghanaians are comfortable with the current tenure of governments and that will not be the foundation for economic reforms.

There is also this request by the  Youth Employment Agency it recruits, and by extension national service personnel, who work for the security services, must be absorbed into full time employment.

One group of youth, enrolled under the YEA or National Service Scheme(NSS) soon to be National Service Authority, that I pray for all the time,  are those serving under the Ghana Police Service, particularly the Motor Traffic and Transport Department,(MTTD) Passport Office and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, (DVLA) who are exposed to corruptible practices and corruption at very tender ages. Some of the personnel may not even understand the impact of the undeserved financial gain on their future.

But, if both the YEA and NSS are to have functional impact on national employment and productivity, then personnel in all sectors who distinguish themselves must be absorbed, not just those serving with the security services.

There are some who distinguish themselves in the health and educational sectors, some in agriculture some in the security services and in other service areas. Why then do we want to isolate those in the security services as if they are the only patriots. That could be discriminatory and unacceptable by way of provisions of the 1992 Constitution

Finally, there was this commentary I listened to from a so-called security analyst or expert during  the 1pm GBC News Bulletin, on Thursday July 18, 2024. It was  about the appointment of COP Yohonu as Deputy Inspector General of Police.

 After admitting that COP Yohonu more than deserved the appointment for performing well in all the areas of the Ghana Police Service that he has served, he concluded that the appointment was a trap set for him.

 The reason, why should he be appointed, just six months to the end of the tenure of President Akufo Addo. Where is the conspiracy and the conspirators.

What is the import of the timing of the appointment to security beyond politics. If the man deserves the position, does it matter how long the person who is appointing him has to serve.

In the name of partisan bias, should legitimate actions be stopped or denigrated.  What has to be done must be done since one ought not to swallow the saliva because it would enrage others.

The writer is a public servant