Founder and Executive Chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has defended comments made by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin regarding a Circuit Court judge presiding over the case involving Kwame Baffoe (Abronye DC).
Afenyo-Markin has faced criticism after publicly questioning the conduct of the judge and vowing to continue challenging what he described as the improper application of the law. His remarks followed the remand of Abronye DC over allegations of offensive conduct likely to disturb public peace and the publication of false statements against a judge.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Otchere-Darko argued that the Minority Leader’s intervention should be understood within the broader context of free speech and democratic accountability, rather than partisan politics.
He stressed that the issue ought not to be framed as a dispute between the NPP and the NDC but examined through the lens of constitutional rights and civil liberties. “Protecting human rights and preserving the credibility of the legal system require individuals willing to defend constitutional principles and raise concerns where necessary,” he wrote.
Otchere-Darko cautioned that restrictions on speech and civil liberties affect all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, and emphasized that freedom of expression extends beyond political actors alone.
While acknowledging the importance of firm and fair application of the law, he warned against enforcement practices that undermine due process or weaken fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution. Justice, he said, must not only be carried out but also be seen to be administered fairly and transparently.
His comments come amid heightened public debate over judicial conduct, freedom of expression, and political accountability following Abronye DC’s remand.
