There are no political judges – Justice Henry Anthony Kwofie

Justice Henry Anthony Kwofie, the nominee for the Supreme Court, has denied rumors that there are justices in the judiciary who have political affiliations.

Based on his 25 years of bench experience, the Appeals Court Judge claimed not to have seen any cases of judges being swayed by political factors.

Justice Kwofie emphasized that these narratives pose a threat to Ghana’s democracy and the judiciary, and she urged the people of Ghana not to put up with them.

“There are no political judges. It is dangerous to describe a judge as political this, political that. It is a very dangerous thing for even a judge to allow himself to be described that way. If a judge has to act according to his conscience and according to the oath that he takes, there are no political judges.”

He said this in answer to a query from Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, on Wednesday, December 20, during the judge’s nomination vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament.

Henry Anthony Kwofie, an Appeals Court judge, has stated that the judiciary is ready to address issues related to artificial intelligence (A.I.).

In response to a query at his confirmation hearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament, the judge made this declaration.

The committee used the findings of the 2023 WASSCE, in which artificial intelligence (AI) was used to construct the answers. Furthermore, there have been claims against certain legal practitioners for using AI in ways that have a detrimental effect on cases.

On Wednesday, December 20, however, Justice Kwofie expressed confidence in the judiciary’s capacity to deal with such matters.

He emphasized the E-Justice initiative in particular as one of the instruments available to address issues with new and developing technology.

“What we are doing to try to catch up is to deal with the issue via the issue of E-Justice, computerisation. Those are the areas. But with respect to other areas, as and when the law changes the judiciary will move in tandem with the movement of the law.”

“We will not be at a standstill because we ourselves are also part of society,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo has nominated three new judges, including Justice Kwofie, to the Supreme Court.

Following his screening, the committee will speak with Yaw Darko Asare and Richard Adjei-Frimpong, the other two nominees who are also Court of Appeal members.

Joseph Osei Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, is in charge of the Appointments Committee.

It is anticipated that he will oversee the procedure and present a report to the assembly for approval.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com