Graphic misrepresented my ‘support for Akufo-Addo’ comment- Supreme Court Judge Nominee

Justice of the Appeals Court, Justice Clemence Jackson Honyenuga who has now been appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court has explained that state-owned Daily Graphic newspaper misrepresented his ‘call on Ghanaians to give President Akufo-Addo another term to implement his vision for the country’ comment, MyNewsGh.com reports.

Appearing before the Appointment Committee of Parliament on Monday [May 11, 2020], monitored by MyNewsGh.com, Justice Honyenuga in responding to a question posed by the Minority leader, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu explained that the comment entirely did not reflect his personal view and as such he was taken aback when Daily Graphic in their reportage suggested so.

He indicated that, he was nominated by the Afadjato traditional council in his capacity as the Paramount Chief of the Nyagbo Traditional Area with the stool name, Torgbui Ashui Nyagasi V, to speak for and on behalf of the Chief and people of the Afadjato traditional council and so it was wrong for the said quote to be represented as that of his personal view. 

The state-owned Daily Graphic newspaper, had quoted him in February 2020, as calling on Ghanaians to give President Akufo-Addo another term to implement his vision for the country at a durbar of chiefs and people of Nyagbo to welcome the President, as part of his three-day tour of the Volta and Oti regions.

“We wish to congratulate you for the excellent manner you are governing this dear country of ours, it is our hope that with your vision and the gains made in your first term, Ghanaians may consider giving you another four years.”

But, Justice Clemence Jackson Honyenuga insisted at his vetting today in parliament that Daily Graphic did not report that he addressed the people on behalf of the Chief and people of Afadjato and also, they failed to acknowledge that the event was not held in his traditional area. 

The Chairman of the vetting committee, Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu further denied a follow up question from Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu, who questioned Justice Honyenuga on his view of the judicial code of conduct which stresses on ‘impartiality’ juxtaposing that to his comment. 

The Bekwai constituency MP, Hon. Osei-Owusu explained that Justice Honyenuga had already given his answers to the earlier question asked by Hon. Haruna Iddrisu so it was not necessary for the committee to admit a similar question.

The Minority led by Hon. Haruna Iddrisu contested the decision of the Chairman and staged a five minutes walk out from the event with the excuse that they needed to do a further consultation on the ruling. 

Born on the 4th of September, 1952 at Nyagbo-Gagbefe in the Volta region and being called to the bar in November 1981, Justice Clemence Jackson Honyenuga has had over twenty years of legal practice and seventeen years as a Judge in Ghana. 

He has currently been sitting as additional High Court judge in the state’s criminal case against former COCOBOD boss, Dr. Stephen Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo who have been accused of causing financial loss to the state. 

Source: MyNewsGh.com/ Evans Osei-Bonsu/ 2020.