Mr. William Nyarko, Executive Director, Africa Centre for International Law & Accountability is asking the Supreme Court of Ghana not to allow the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa to use the black letter rules to escape accountability.
He reckoned that the Supreme Court of Ghana shouldn’t just apply the black letter rules of the law but also the Spirit of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana in the context of democratic accountability.
“Ghana is a democratic country and public officers must be held accountable for their official acts. Jean Mensa, the Returning Officer of the 2020 Presidential Election who declared the winner of the election, is a public officer and has a duty and responsibility to account to, We the People of Ghana, who are the ultimate losers when the official acts of a public officer is alleged to have fallen short of his/her performance.” – Mr. Nyarko wrote on his Facebook page
Escaping accountability in the name of human rights law as the 1st respondent lawyer and the bench seeks to declare could be categorized as undemocratic.
The international law expert stated this on his Facebook post against the backdrop of the EC’s lawyers in the ongoing Election Petition at the Supreme Court praying the court not to allow Jean Mensa to mount the witness box for cross-examination.
Mr. Willian Nyarko noted that “a Public Officer should not be allowed to use the black letter rules and general principles of law or a human right as a shield to escape accountability”.
He concluded by stating emphatically that “lack of accountability leads to impunity. This is not just about Jean Mensa; it is about holding all Public Officers accountable”. And called on all mean Ghanaians to speak out against this deed which is likely to trigger impunity should the Supreme Court uphold the plead of the EC’s by not allowing Jean Mensa to be crossed examined. “I have said my own. You’re welcome to say yours”.
Filed By : Agaatorne Douglas Asaah / awakenewsroom.com
