I’ll delve deep into worrying judgment debts – Sole Commissioner

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Created on Monday, 08 October 2012 00:00

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I’ll delve deep into worrying judgment debts – Sole Commissioner

08 October 2012

Justice Yaw Appau, the Sole Commissioner charged with the responsibility of investigating issues related to judgement debts, has vowed to leave no stone unturned in his quest to ensure that truth surrounding judgement debts is unraveled.

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He told Joy News’ Seth Kwame Boateng that although his appointment came to him as surprise, the issue of judgement debt “is of public concern, all Ghanaians are worried, all of us are worried, the judiciary, we are worried.”

Therefore, to live up to the expectation of President John Mahama who sworn him into office Monday, Justice Appau opined: “I have sacrificed myself to delve deep into this matter.”

He further stated that his decision to take the job was to also “clear the air and to let people know that at least the judiciary is performing its function… for the truth to come out”.

He has therefore been “released” by the Chief Justice as an Appeal Court judge to enable him concentrate on his new role.

He also reaffirms his commitment to his assignment: “I want to assure your Excellency that with the needed support and cooperation of all stakeholders, I will live up to your Excellency’s expectation…I will never fail you and my great country Ghana.”

President Mahama earlier described Justice Yaw Appau as a “firm judge with tremendous investigative experience”, adding that Mr Appau is a man of “unquestioned integrity”.

“I am completely confident that under his leadership, the commission will produce recommendation to address the judgement debts conundrum…it is a view to address the illness other than the symptoms.”

The President explained the rationale for setting up the commission: “The overall purpose of this is to refashion and systematize the procedures for negotiating, contracting, executing, monitoring and resolving disputes involving business transaction which the government is a party.”

President Mahama conceded that judgement debt is one of the issues with extreme public interest that have “bedeviled the Fourth Republic”, with a “far deeper” undertone than what public discussions have revealed.

He therefore appealed to all to assist the Commission.

Justice Appau is entitled to work with any experts, consultants among others, including security support.

Meanwhile, a senior law lecturer at GIMPA, Ernest Kofi Abotsi, told Joy News’ Bernard Saibu the establishment of the Commission demonstrates the importance attached to judgement debt saga, saying it will help investigate the judgment debts canker “so that certain cases are rectified once and for all”.

But a senior policy analyst with the Center for National Affairs Rocky Obeng was not convinced about what the Commission is capable of achieving under the status quo where the power to prosecute lies with the Attorney-General – a government appointee.

“In the event that any of the government’s functionaries is found to have been indicted or implicated in some fraudulent acts that the commission investigate; wouldn’t government most likely be hesitant to prosecute its own?”

He advocated that the Commission should be empowered to initiate its own prosecution without recourse to the Attorney General’s Department.

From: Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.com