Renowned Ghanaian lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata has expressed concern over what he describes as a “troubling” decline in public trust in the country’s judiciary, warning that the situation could harm Ghana’s democratic stability.

Speaking to GHOne TV in Accra, Mr Tsikata highlighted a recent report by the 2024 Mo Ibrahim Index on African Governance, which noted a dramatic decrease in Ghana’s judicial autonomy. According to the index, Ghana’s rating in judicial independence has plummeted from 100% to 50% over the last seven years, suggesting a worrying erosion of perceived impartiality within the judiciary.

Mr Tsikata argued that waning confidence in the judiciary could undermine the legal profession and the broader justice system, as judges are drawn from the ranks of seasoned legal professionals. “If people lose confidence in the judiciary, it is also a loss of confidence in the legal profession,” he stated.

He also noted an increasing public perception that Ghana’s judiciary is biased in favour of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), a viewpoint that he says is becoming more entrenched among ordinary citizens. “There’s a perception that the judiciary is acting in favour of the NPP,” he said, adding that this view is often expressed in a tongue-in-cheek manner, with citizens referring to the judiciary as a “unanimous football club” due to decisions seemingly favouring one side.

Mr Tsikata cautioned that failing to address this perception could weaken the judiciary’s credibility, potentially eroding public trust in both Ghana’s democratic institutions and its system of justice.

Source :TheDotNews