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0 Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Fellow, Dr John Osae Kwapong, says it would have been beneficial for the Chief Justice to have made initial comments on her removal process.
He emphasised that transparency in such proceedings is crucial to avoiding speculation and misinformation.
Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, March 29, Dr Osae Kwapong highlighted the importance of open communication in cases involving high-profile public officials.
“If it is made public, whenever there is an information vacuum, people fill that vacuum with their own innuendos, speculations, and thoughts,” he said.
“The benefit of making such a process public is that you and I get to watch, see, and hear the same thing at the same time, without all the speculation that comes with secrecy.”
He warned that in a politically polarised environment, the lack of transparency in the removal process could fuel unnecessary narratives.
“If you think about the potential removal of the Chief Justice and you know that processes are ongoing, then eventually, let’s say a decision is made to remove the Chief Justice, you can only imagine the narratives that would emerge,” he said.
Dr Osae Kwapong also referenced a data from Afrobarometer to caution against unintended consequences of transparency.
He pointed to the 2014 decline in public trust in the Electoral Commission, which he linked to the prolonged 2012 election petition hearings.
“In my view, the decline in trust in the electoral commission happened because, for seven to eight months, we all saw the challenges and flaws in our electoral system. That shattered people’s confidence and trust in the system,” he explained.
He stressed that while transparency is important, it should be handled carefully to protect institutions from being weakened in the eyes of the public.
“In pursuing transparency, you also want to make sure that you do not weaken the institution in the eyes of the general public,” he cautioned.
