Ghana Bar Association Takes on Muntaka over Supreme Court Judge’s Bribery Allegation

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has described as “distasteful,” revelation by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chief Whip in Parliament, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, that a justice of the Supreme Court attempted to influence an NDC MP during the election to elect the Speaker for the 8th Parliament.

In a statement with a rather vengeful tone, the GBA demanded that Hon. Mubarak either substantiate the allegation or retract and apologize.

 “(We) hereby call on Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka to substantiate the allegation or retract same and apologies to the Justices of the Supreme Court in particular, and the judiciary in general,” the statement said.

It was signed by its National President, Anthony Forson Jr. and its National Secretary, Yaw Acheampong Boafo.

The statement added under a veil of threat that “even though the 1992 constitution guarantees freedom of speech, that freedom should be exercised with circumspection and should not be used to incite hatred or to subject the Judiciary to ridicule and contempt.”

Hon. Muntaka had made the bribery revelation while guesting on Accra-based JoyNews’ talk show. He revealed that a Justice of the Supreme Court called one of the MPs on the side of the NDC and asked her to vote for the NPP’s nominee for Speaker, Prof. Mike Ocquaye.

According to the Asawase MP, the judge had propositioned the MP with inducements including a promise to supply her fuel for four years and pay her children’s school fees.