The Minister-designate for Communications, Digitalization, and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has defended his comments against Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo over the delayed anti-LGBTQ Bill case hearing.
He argued that the criticism was constructive and made in good faith, based on information available to him.
Appearing before the Appointments Committee on Thursday, the Ningo-Prampram MP accused the Chief Justice of deliberately delaying the suit that was before the Supreme Court.
This came after Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin asked Mr. George whether he believed the Chief Justice was not performing her duties effectively.
In response, the outspoken MP said the Chief Justice “could have done better in the exercise of a public office,” arguing that his criticism was “constructive,” as public officers, including the Chief Justice, are not above the law.
He clarified that his problem was not with the process of empanelling judges, which he acknowledged is dictated by procedural rules, but rather with the delay in the actual hearing of the case.
Mr. George asserted that when the Chief Justice set firm timelines, the case progressed more quickly, vindicating his position that she had the power to expedite the process.
However, the Minority Leader pointed out that Mr. George was not a party to the case and had not filed as an interested party, questioning whether his public comments were fair to the Chief Justice, who had no opportunity to respond.
In a related development, Mr. George also announced plans to reintroduce the bill to Parliament, despite President John Mahama’s stance that it should be sponsored by the state.
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