Chief Justice’s petition against Dominic Ayine part of efforts to enforce culture of silence - NDC secretary

Chief Justice’s petition against Dominic Ayine part of efforts to enforce culture of silence - NDC secretary

- The Chief Justice has called for an investigation against Dr. Dominic Ayine

- This was after the former Attorney who is also the MP for Bolgatanga East criticised the judges who sat on the 2020 election petition case including the Chief Justice during a CDD-Ghana event

- Dr. Ayine said the judges constantly militated against efforts by former President John Mahama to prove his case

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The Volta Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), James Gunu, says the petition by the Chief Justice to the General Legal Council to investigate Dr. Dominic Ayine is a subtle move by the government to gag dissent.

Speaking to YEN.com.gh’s Mohammed Awal, Gunu described the petition as extremely worrying.

Chief Justice’s petition against Dominic Ayine part of efforts to enforce culture of silence - NDC secretary
Chief Justice’s petition against Dominic Ayine part of efforts to enforce culture of silence - NDC secretary
Source: Facebook

“It’s part of the government’s agenda to enforce the culture of silence in the country,” he stated.

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The Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Annin-Yeboah last month petitioned the GLC to investigate Dr. Ayine, who is a former Deputy Attorney General and the current Member of Parliament for Bolgatanta East.

The petition followed some comments Dr. Ayine made during a CDD-Ghana roundtable discussion, themed: ‘Presidential Election Petitions and their Impact on Africa’s Democracy’.

Questioning independence of the judiciary

Dr. Ayine reportedly questioned the independence of the judges who sat on the 2020 election petition case.

Former President John Dramani Mahama, the NDC presidential candidate in the 2020 general elections petitioned the Supreme Court after rejecting the outcome of the presidential polls.

He argued that the results as declared by the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa, were flawed and unconstitutional.

John Mahama asked the Court to set aside the declaration which had President Akufo-Addo as the winner of the election and order a rerun between the two of them.

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The court, however, dismissed the petition for lacking “cogent evidence” to back the petitioner's claims.

But, addressing the roundtable, Dr. Ayine accused the court of “constantly putting hurdles” in the way of Mahama “in terms of adducing evidence” to prove his case.

He added that the Supreme Court didn’t faithfully apply the rules of procedure during the trial.

Second contempt case looms

It will be recalled Dr. Ayine, a member of the legal team of former President John Dramani Mahama during the election petition trial, was cited for contempt for saying in one of his post-trial interviews that the court had a “predetermined agenda” to rule against the former president.

He was hauled before the court on February 22 for the scandalous comment. The court ordered him to go and apologise.

Dr Ayine rendered an unconditional apology on the same day, admitting that he went overboard and was reckless concerning the “remarks that I made.”

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The court then discharged him on Thursday, February 25, 2021.

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Source: YEN.com.gh

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