I'll appoint Attorney-General who will be true Minister of Justice and not political party wing director - Mahama tells NDC Lawyers conference

The next National Democratic Congress (NDC) government will reintroduce the public tribunals system in accordance with the 1992 constitution, the party’s flag bearer, John Dramani Mahama has said.

He also said the next NDC government will appoint an Attorney-General who will be a true Minister of Justice and not a political party wing director.

Speaking at the closing of the 4th annual NDC Lawyers Conference in Ho, Mr Mahama said Ghana’s democracy was now "fragile" and must be protected with utmost intelligence.

About 200 lawyers attended the conference which was on the theme: Keeping a legal eye on the prize; The NDC lawyer’s role in ensuring victory 2024.

Mr Mahama said the past eight years had seen unimaginable regression in Ghana’s democracy, during which institutions had weakened, and the people’s liberties taken for granted and abused.

The NDC flag bearer said corruption and bad governance had become a cancerous tumour eating away at the foundations of solid institutions built between 2009 and 2016.

“We cannot build a prosperous and democratic Ghana anchored on the principles of freedom and justice, providing equal opportunities for all, without recognising the crucial role of the legal profession,” he said.

Mr Mahama re-affirmed NDC’s recognition for the essential role lawyers played in upholding the rule of law, protecting and defending the interest of the party and operationalising its manifesto of hope, and "resetting Ghana".

In that regard, he said, the NDC was committed to encouraging, supporting, and empowering the legal profession and all lawyers dedicated to the values of democracy to ensure justice prevailed in all facets of the society, and to realize the vision of a prosperous and democratic Ghana.

“A lawyer who identifies with the values and ideals of the NDC believes in and stands for the ideals of social democracy, including social justice, transparency, probity and accountability,” Mr Mahama added.

Meanwhile, the former President announced the NDC was also committed to reintroducing the public tribunal system in line with the dictates of the 1992 Constitution.

Pursuant to that, the current constitutional anomaly that existed as result of the institution's decision not to activate the regional tribunals, despite their recognition in the Constitution, must be corrected, he said.

He said the NDC, as true democrats did not believe institutions created by the Constitution should be jettisoned at the whim of individuals.

For that matter, the NDC would obey the constitutional injunction in Article 125 (2), which mandated “popular participation in the administration of justice through the institutions of public and customary tribunals and the jury and assessor system.”

Mr Mahama said, as a party, the NDC believed the reintroduction of the public tribunals and the role of lay panel members in the admiration of justice would rekindle public confidence in the judicial system.

He urged the participants to educate the public on the NDC’s policies as outlined in the party’s manifesto, saying let the people understand that those policies were not just campaign promises.

“Our policies are grounded in sound legal and democratic principles that aim to foster a just and equitable society,” said the NDC flag bearer

He entreated the lawyers to stay ahead of the new legal developments and be abreast of the laws on the electoral process and system to effectively defend the NDC at all times in such matters.

“Your knowledge and preparedness are our first line of defence against acts of injustice, voter suppression, and intimidation that may arise before, during and after this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections,” Mr Mahama said.

A spokesman for the NDC flag bearer, Joyce Bawa Mogtari said the rate of unemployment in the country’s history was dreadful and that was one of the main issues the 24-Hour Economy policy of Mr Mahama was seeking to address.

The conference topic included: The role of lawyers in election 2024, Future directions in Ghanaian electoral laws – Insights from the 2020 presidential election petition judgment, and Election security and election fraud.

They also included: Challenging the validity of a parliamentary election – Grounds, timing forums and procedure; and the Legal implication of the 24-Hour economic policy.