Supreme Court nominee, Justice Sir Dennis Dominic Adjei, has pledged to uphold the law impartially and not allow his religious beliefs to influence his judicial decisions, particularly on matters concerning same-sex relationships.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, June 16, Justice Adjei stated that judges are bound by the judicial oath and must remain impartial, irrespective of personal faith or convictions.
“We’ve talked about our faith; it could be Christian faith, Muslim faith; it is your faith. But when you are in the courtroom, you have taken the judicial oath to be impartial, irrespective of the persons involved. Once you put on your judicial cap, you must act in accordance with the oath you have taken,” he explained.
He stressed that allowing religious convictions to influence judicial reasoning would undermine the integrity of the legal system.
Addressing the sensitive issue of LGBTQ+ rights, Justice Adjei made it clear that any case brought before him would be assessed based solely on the law and its surrounding circumstances.
“If any matter is brought before me; whether it is same-sex or whatever; I will look at the circumstances and the law, and I will give effect to the position of the law without being influenced by my faith. Otherwise, I would be abdicating my seat as a judge,” he stated.
Drawing from his experience at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, he added, “These are some of the cases that come before us. But when they come, we handle them without putting on our faith. Because if we did, every religious group would demand that one of their own be on the panel, which should not be the case.”
Justice Adjei’s remarks come amid continued national debate over LGBTQ+ rights and legal protections in Ghana. His comments highlight the delicate balance between personal beliefs and constitutional obligations required of judges in interpreting and applying the law.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
