Kofi Abotsi appeals to Supreme Court Justices to strive to change public perception of political bias

Dean of the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) Law Faculty has appealed to Justices of the Supreme Court to strive to be disassociated with political parties.

Ernest Kofi Abotsi said they must be able to attain an image of autonomy as opposed to the public perception of partiality since they are appointed by the ruling party.

“The problem always comes when people associate people justices with political parties because we tend to insulate them and take away their judicial cloak and put on them the impression of political parties,” he decried.

His comments were in response to the host of Joy Newsfile, Samson Ayeninni who sought his advice to members of the public who associate the rulings of judges to the president who appointed them.

Mr Kofi Abotsi stated that if these perceptions are not corrected, the judgments of the courts will be questioned by the public.

Speaking further, he added that although they may not make decisions to favour government which appointed them as Supreme Court Justices, ignoring the perception will only reinforce it.

“If judgements are continually seen in a certain prism and the court itself doesn’t appear to be interested in dealing with that perception, brushes it aside and goes ahead to give decisions, these perceptions will continue to rage,” he said.