Accra: Mr Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, a former Deputy Attorney General, has urged for balanced commentary and perspective on the functioning of Ghana's judiciary. Speaking on a radio programme aired on Multimedia Networks, Mr Tuah-Yeboah emphasized the importance of public analysis and critique of court judgments, but he cautioned against generalizations that could undermine public confidence in the judicial system.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Tuah-Yeboah's remarks come amidst ongoing discussions about the judiciary, particularly in relation to the recent defamation suit involving investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and politician Kennedy Agyapong. The discussions have scrutinized the fairness and efficiency of Ghana's legal system, with some critics unfavorably comparing it to other jurisdictions, such as the United States.
Mr Tuah-Yeboah pointed out the differences between judicial systems, noting that while the USA employs jury trials in civil suits, Ghana relies on judges to decide matters. He remarked, "In the US, you deal with jury trials, which is different from Ghana, where a single judge presides," and he advocated for reforms in Ghana's defamation laws to align more closely with international standards.
Highlighting the absence of comprehensive defamation laws in Ghana, Mr Tuah-Yeboah stated, "Is there not some sense in it that here we don't have, as it were, specific laws for the prosecution of defamation matters, and we have only small rules within CI47?" He pointed out the repeated calls for legislation similar to those in the UK and the US.
Addressing the debate over jury trials versus single judges, Mr Tuah-Yeboah acknowledged that both systems have their challenges. He emphasized the need for continuous improvements in the judicial system and encouraged the public to engage in informed and balanced discussions about its strengths and weaknesses.
