Physician and political activist, Dr. Arthur Kennedy, has expressed concerns regarding the recent performance of the Supreme Court, arguing that its recent rulings have raised doubts about the court’s impartiality.

He cited several examples where he believed the court's actions appeared politically influenced rather than strictly legal.

His comments came in the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to instruct the Speaker of Parliament to halt his ruling that declared four Members of Parliament (MPs) disqualified for announcing their intention to contest as independent candidates. This intervention was prompted by an application filed by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

Dr. Kennedy referenced past cases such as the controversies surrounding former Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo, the handling of LGBTQ+ issues, and the current case involving the four MPs, expressing his worry that the court's actions seem politically motivated in these instances.

He made these remarks during an appearance on Newsfile on Saturday, October 19.

“Because elsewhere in the world, what the judiciary says does not always go, and for Ghana’s judiciary, the Supreme Court, to continue to maintain their standing and the respect that they enjoy, they ought to be mindful of where they are in politics.

“It is strange, for example, that Domelevo’s case took as long as it took. It is strange that the LGBT case brutally truncated the law-making process that has been clearly set out and now brakes have been put on it, and all of a sudden this case, we managed to empanel a group of Supreme Courts, and within a day, a ruling has been made.

“When these things keep happening again and again, there is the perception that our judiciary is biased and too political, as Kan-Dapaah and former President Mahama did say. I fear that sooner or later, we are going to get into the realm where every new government will insist on having its own Supreme Court and its own Electoral Commission because it does not trust the previous one.”

The activist advocated for guardrails on the Supreme Court, insisting that it is too eager to involve itself in political affairs.

He also noted that its decisions always seem to favour one side.

“So my point is that as a nation, we need to make sure that we put in the guardrails. I think that this judiciary, and particularly this Supreme Court, is too eager to stick its nose in political affairs and to stick it in consistently in a manner that seems to favour one side.”

Dr Kennedy believes a comprehensive review of the judicial regime will ensure some sanity and restore public confidence.

“It is dangerous to the stability of our political quality, and I think that this underlines the need for sweeping judicial reforms,” he added.