Death threats and attacks force High Court Judge to abandon post in Bolgatanga
Description
The Acting Supervising High Court Judge at Bolgatanga, Justice Alexander Graham, has fled his post following death threats and attacks at his residence. Justice Graham had convicted two persons for contempt a week before his departure. The death threats, in the form of phone calls and text messages, began when he was promoted to the High Court in July 2022. Some unknown individuals had warned him to be careful about some of the cases pending at the High Court Two, especially those related to mining and chieftaincy. One source revealed that an unknown person had threatened to take Justice Graham's life if he did not receive a favorable outcome in a case that was pending at the court. There were also reports of sporadic shooting in the night around his residence by unknown assailants a few weeks before his departure. On March 13, 2023, some individuals attacked Justice Graham's residence by pelting stones at it. Fearing for his life, Justice Graham left Bolgatanga for Accra the next day. Although several cases had been earmarked for hearing on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, the clients and lawyers were left disappointed due to his absence. It is unclear when Justice Graham will return to adjudicate cases at the High Court Two in Bolgatanga. His departure has raised concerns about the safety of judges and the need for increased security measures to protect them. On Friday, March 10, 2023, two persons were convicted by the High Court Two for attempting to influence the trial judge.
My Thoughts
The incident has prompted calls for an investigation into the threats against Justice Graham and the attack on his residence. It is hoped that the authorities will take swift action to apprehend the perpetrators and ensure that justice is served. A safety app such as POTP can be a useful tool to get information about missing people.
