Public perception of judiciary as pro-NPP in ‘unanimous FC’ way ‘dangerous’ – Tsatsu Tsikata warns

The public perception that the judiciary has become one-sided in favour of the governing New Patriotic Party portends ill consequences for the country, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata has warned.

The veteran lawyer told GHOne TV in a recent interview: “There’s a perception that the judiciary is acting in favour of the NPP.”

Explaining how pervasive that perception is, Mr Tsikata cited: “Ordinary citizens jokingly refer to the judiciary as a ‘unanimous football club,’ deciding cases in favour of one side,” stressing: “This creates a dangerous precedent where people lose faith in the judicial process altogether.”

He warned: “If people lose confidence in the judiciary, it is also a loss of confidence in the legal profession.”

Mr Tsikata noted: “The judiciary is made up of individuals who have risen through the ranks of the legal profession, and when confidence in the judiciary wanes, it directly impacts the entire process of adjudication, which is what lawyers practice in the court.”

Mr Tsikata’s observation is backed by the 2024 Mo Ibrahim Index on African Governance which reported reveals that Ghana’s judiciary saw a decline in its autonomy rating, dropping from a full score of 100% between 2014 and 2017 to 50% in 2018, a level it has maintained through 2023.

Judicial autonomy, as measured by the index, refers to the judiciary’s ability to interpret laws without political interference or influence from other branches of government.

The report’s findings follow growing concerns from civil society groups, who cite the appointment of political figures to judicial roles and the detention of protesters as potential indicators of political influence within the courts.