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23rd August, 2011
Forum For Governance And Justice Questions Legal Status Of Judges And Magistrates Association
The Forum for Governance and Justice (FGJ) has questioned the legal status of the Association of Judges and Magistrates of Ghana (AJMG).
Dr. Clement A. Paak, a leading member of the FGJ alleged that a check at the Registrar General’s Department revealed that though the Association of Magistrates and Judges came to register the association, to the best of their knowledge it has not been issued with a certificate to operate as a legal entity.
Dr. Apaak also questioned why the General Legal Council and its disciplinary Committee was still entertaining a complaint brought before it by an association which does not have the capacity to operate.
The Forum also wondered why the association had failed to file responses to the suit filed against them on June 8, 2011 by Dr. Clement A. Paak and Dr. Buame, both leading members of the forum.
The suit was filed on behalf of the four lawyers Dr. Raymond Atuguba, Mr. Abraham Amaliba, Mr. David Annan and the late Mr. Larry Bimi, who have been banned from appearing in court on behalf of their clients for making allegations of corruption within the judiciary.
The FGJ is a non partisan, non-profit organization whose aim is to protect the right of the citizen and ensure justice and good governance.
Dr. Apaak raised these questions when he addressed a joint press conference by the Forum at the weekend.
He indicated that the presence of nine groups at the event was part of the pledge FGJ’s to galvanize public support “towards ensuring that justice is accessible and that the sale of justice is curtailed.
He said the meeting was to discuss the continuous victimization of four brave lawyers who made comments about perceived instances of corruption in the judiciary.
According to him, the lawyers who have, among others, been denied access to the courts of Ghana since May, this year. “was injustice, and a blantant attempt to intimidate them into submission.”
Dr. Apaak said the FDJ still holds the view that it is wrong to punish these lawyers for exercising their right to free speech.
Mr Awuni Apuko Peter, Executive Co-ordinator of CONOSHSS, on his part said basically, we are in a mix and fix when it comes to the credibility of the judges’ association.
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