Tragic blow to democracy if Atuguba’s judicial bias claim is true - Prof Agyeman-Duah

Governance expert and former UN Senior Advisor, Prof. Baffour Agyeman-Duah, is worried about recent comments from retired Supreme Court Justice William Atuguba. Justice Atuguba suggested that political interference may affect decisions in Ghana’s judiciary.

In an interview on Joy FM's Top Story on May 7, Prof. Agyeman-Duah called Justice Atuguba’s statement “a tragedy.” He warned that if the judiciary is politically compromised, it would harm public trust and constitutional integrity.

He said, “If he’s making that statement having been there before, then I think it’s a tragedy.” He added that if Supreme Court justices feel politically influenced, they undermine their own credibility in democracy.

Prof. Agyeman-Duah acknowledged growing public concern about the politicization of the judiciary. He emphasized that such claims are serious, especially from a former judge.

He stressed the need for constitutional reforms to protect the judiciary from executive control over appointments. “Once the judiciary becomes politicized, its neutrality as a mediator in governance matters is diminished,” he stated.

Prof. Agyeman-Duah supported President Mahama's recent constitutional review process. He urged that it should remove presidential control over appointing chief justices and high court officials.

He suggested looking at best practices from other democracies like Kenya. In Kenya, the President does not appoint Supreme Court judges. This could help safeguard judicial independence and prevent perceptions of partisan justice.