One of Ghana’s highly respected former Supreme Court justices, William Atuguba, has waded into the alleged judicial transfer of the Paramount Chief of the Dormaa Traditional Area, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II.
During his address at a public lecture jointly organized by Solidare Ghana and the Department of Political Science at the University of Ghana on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, Justice Atuguba expressed his disappointment over the transfer of the Dormaahene, who also serves as a High Court judge.
This, he added, is problematic, suggesting that it is based on the fact that Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II is a vocal person.
“I heard for talking too much, the Paramount Chief of Dormaa Traditional Council and a High Court Judge, Osagyefo Agyeman Badu II has been transferred from the Greater Accra to the Volta Region. (Ghanaians are not angry enough),” he said in his speech.
Justice William Atuguba further underscored the apparent lack of widespread public outrage over the current state of affairs in the country, particularly in response to actions taken by the incumbent government.
In his speech, he pointed out that he had heard about the transfer of Osagyefo Agyeman Badu II to the Volta Region as a consequence of his outspokenness and stressed that the lack of public anger was concerning.
The former Supreme Court justice also discussed the need for substantial reforms in Ghana’s political structure. He argued that if these reforms were not implemented, they would set unfavourable precedents that could lead to challenges for future governments.
“When the Executive needs a reform, the President is changed. When the Legislative needed reform, the Speaker was changed. When the Judiciary needs a reform, the Chief Justice needs to be changed. If Nana Addo could remove the Electoral Commissioner, the Auditor General and it was good, so should John Mahama be able to remove the Chief Justice.”
“We need serious reforms in every institution including the NPP. This is one of the reasons Ghanaians want him to be President again,” he added.
The theme of the public forum was “Protecting Ghana’s Democracy: The Role of the Judiciary.”
