NDC alarmed by Judicial Service’s directive to media; demands withdrawal

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned the Judicial Service of Ghana for its recent letter to the media over reportage on court proceedings.

The Service wrote to the media, asking the fourth estate of the realm to be wary of “incendiary, hateful and offensive statements” in reportage on court proceedings, particularly on the one to do with the ongoing election petition.

“This concern has been heightened by the flurry of statements and speeches directed at our client’s Justices, especially after the commencement of hearing of the election petition in the suit intituled John Dramani Mahama v Electoral Commission & Nana Addo,” the letter written by Sory@Law read.

But at an emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NDC held on Monday, March 1, the party said it received the letter with alarm.

“We note that the letter from the Judicial Service seeks to limit the right to free speech and press freedom to mere praise singing of the Judiciary, even in the face of several unjust rulings from the apex Court,” a statement issued by General Secretary Johnson Asiedu Nketia after the meeting said.

“NEC holds the view that, the Judicial Service has no right or authority to threaten anyone, much less the Media, for performing their constitutionally mandated duties.

“There are clear procedures laid out in our laws for dealing with specific infractions of media ethics and laws.”

The largest opposition party says it finds “the letter from the Judicial Service an affront to free speech and press freedom which threatens the pillars of democracy that the people of Ghana have nurtured over the years”.

“We condemn it in no uncertain terms and call on the Judicial Service to withdraw same without delay, as a sign of respect for the democratic culture of free speech and press freedom.”

By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|editors.3news.com|Ghana

Follow @kwame_amoh