A former boss of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) says he can vouch for the integrity of the new Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo.
Justice Emile Short maintains that Justice Akuffo is a woman of integrity who won’t be compromised by anybody including President Akufo-Addo.
His comment follows the announcement of Justice Akuffo as successor to Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood, who is retiring on 8 June 2017.
President Akufo-Addo who confirmed her appointment news conference at the Flagstaff House Friday stated that he has known the Chief Justice for forty years, and can vouch for her ability and integrity to serve in that high office.
He also revealed that having worked with Justice Sophia Akuffo as a junior in his firm, he can guarantee her independent-mindedness and respect for the rule of law.
But some other lawyers including a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abraham Amaliba accused President Akufo-Addo of cronyism.
He explained that Justice Akuffo might be biased towards the president because she trained as a lawyer at his chambers.
But Justice Emile Short on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Friday said such agreement is dead on arrival.
“Judges even at a lower level demonstrate integrity and competence in the way they exercise their function and those at the Supreme Court are men and women of integrity and are not influenced by such things so I know she won’t be influenced by anyone”.
He indicated that Justice Sophia Akuffo as the new Chief Justice has the requisite experience and track record to deliver as the head of the country’s judiciary.
Justice Emile Short is confident the new Chief Justice is more than qualified and has all the experience to turn-around of the judiciary after it suffered some setbacks when some of its members were implicated in a bribery scandal.