The President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has criticized some counsel given by the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Mr. Cudjoe says the advice from the AG are consistently problematic, leading to “sad spectacles.”
Speaking on The Big Issue on Citi TV, Franklin Cudjoe questioned the AG's failure to delay the passage of the anti-LGBTQ bill and his overall approach to high-profile cases.
“The Attorney-General is also a disappointment; very disappointing, this Attorney-General has been legendary when it comes to giving very bad advice. When it comes to important issues that matter, especially when certain persons are involved. He’s been too political, and it’s not healthy for a state like Ghana. Look at SALL, Assin North MP, Gyakye Quayson, the way he’s treating Ato Forson [Minority Leader] in court.
“My problem with the Attorney-General is that he should have taken the position the Finance Minister took in advising legally that, 'Mr President the way things are going I think sitting together with the other party is very important to deal with this matter'. But he took a Machiavellian position in trying to say he’s hands are stayed."
His comment follows a letter from Godfred Dame to Parliament asking the House to proceed with the approval processes for the President’s ministers and deputy ministers.
He argued that there was no risk of undermining the authority of the Supreme Court in determining the substance and essence of the suit filed by Mr Rockson-Nelson Etsa Dafeamekpor (Plaintiff) if Parliament continued the nomination approval processes.
“The substance of Mr Dafeamekpor’s suit is a challenge on the power of the President to relieve Ministers serving in his government of their portfolios and reassign them to different Ministries."
“It has no bearing on the approval of persons newly nominated by the President as Ministers and Deputy Ministers and duly presented to Parliament for approval in accordance with articles 78(1) and 79 (1) of the constitution,” he clarified.
Earlier, the Speaker had suspended the approval of the Ministers and deputies after a letter from the Presidency asked Parliament to cease and desist from transmitting the anti-LGBTQ bill to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his assent.
The decision, according to Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, stems from the acknowledgment of two pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction before the Supreme Court.
The letter emphasised that it would be improper for Parliament to proceed with transmitting the Bill to President Akufo-Addo for any action until the matters before the court are addressed.
Furthermore, it was disclosed that the Attorney-General has advised the President against taking any action regarding the Bill until the issues raised in the legal suits are resolved by the Supreme Court.
But reacting to this, Mr. Cudjoe accused the AG of political bias and poor judgment in legal matters, asserting the need for less politicized and more prudent legal counsel.
“Since when was the President’s hands stayed when it comes to important bills? That is why I’m saying the Attorney-General has been a bad advisor when it comes to very important matters, and he has been too political. If he were smarter, he would have waited and probably delayed the passage of the bill.
“He should have found every rule in the books to delay the passage of the bill. In almost all the cases that are very high-powered, he’s been giving bad advice. I have never seen this dictatorship of Attorney-General in my life,” he asserted.
Credit: myjoyonline.com