Strange Legal Week
By Dr. Ato Kwamena Danso · 9 October 2025 · Politics
I must confess, keeping up with the happenings in the Republic lately is a full-time job. The running theme, of course, is the slow, agonizing destruction of our water bodies by illegal small-scale mining. We watch the environmental catastrophe unfold, and what is the official response? Endless "engagements" and meetings with civil society, a brilliant strategy designed to re-listen to the exact same problems over and over, all in the name of decisive inaction. But fear not, Osagyefo! One bright academic has finally thrown a word into the ring to rescue us: "dechemicalize." We have officially given up on stopping the menace entirely! We’re no longer focused on preventing the pollution; we’re now moving on to the far more exciting task of figuring out how to un-poison the poison. It’s a stunning pivot from prevention to some post-mortem cleaning. Speaking of trouble, it appears Chairman Wontumi, since his brief stay with the BNI/CID, has successfully integrated his detention into a rigorous new weight loss plan. He's back in the headlines, but this time for something more serious. He now faces multiple, more substantive charges related to alleged illegal mining activities concerning his company, Akonta Mining Limited, and the Nimiri Forest Reserve. He's charged with causing unlawful environmental damage. Not to be outdone, his colleague Kwame Baffoe also secured his own personal invitation, his second this season, to the CID, where he was granted bail on the same day. It seems like a new mandatory prerequisite for NPP Chairmen this year is a brief, documented stay with law enforcement. The legal theatre continues its brilliant run. Baffoe-Bonnie, the man nominated to be the next Chief Justice, now has a petition against him even before he can warm the seat for his vetting. The twist here is that, as you noted, I don't recall seeing a clause in the Constitution that mandates petitions against an "Acting" Chief Justice. Yet, here we are! The petitioner, Nabin Yussif, is accusing him of improper communication and a breach of ethics for allegedly saying inappropriate things to a plaintiff in a pending constitutional case. One must wonder if the petitioners have a template ready to go for anyone who dares accept the high office. They are certainly keeping the judiciary busy. And finally, the circus surrounding former A-G Godfred Dame has gotten even thicker. Dame, in a spectacular display of poor judgment, allegedly exchanged WhatsApp sweet nothings with Richard Jakpa, a defendant in the case. This awkward communication was reportedly facilitated by a sitting Supreme Court Justice, Kulendi, who is Jakpa's cousin! The Justice allegedly arranged private meetings to pressure Dame to drop the case. And yet, when Dame was called to face the music, over a hundred lawyers showed up in a glorious, organized display of solidarity. Apparently, they believe that exchanging secret texts with a defendant is merely "creative prosecution. A rather poor judgement I’d say. So long, Ato KD