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The vice-presidential candidate of John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called on the judiciary to crack the whip on persons who attack that arm of government.

Speaking at a meeting with some Civil Society Organisations in Accra, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the judiciary must be fair in the application of the law.

The former education minister said: “If you talk about name and shame it should be consistent. If you are going to apply punishment it should be consistent. If you say somebody has scandalised the law court and you allow the process to go through; the person has apologised and has done everything, the law took it course, the person was fined, the person was sentenced, the person was in prison. You say clemency, it is part of the judicial system; and people pretend they don’t understand why there should be a petition.

“Another person does the same thing, also scandalises the court and just say he is coming to apologise so it is okay; that is corruption. And I want to see that also highlighted.”

Prof Opoku-Agyemang’s comment comes after New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong apologised for insulting a judge and by extension scandalising the court.

The MP apologised after he was summoned by a High Court judge, Justice Amos Wuntah Wuni, for contempt.

The maverick lawmaker is said to have been angered by the judge's decision to pass judgment in an ongoing case without his knowledge and, thus, insulted him and by extension the court on his NET2 TV.

On Wednesday, the judge issued a warrant for Mr Agyapong to appear before the court on Monday, September 14 at 10:00 am to “show cause why he should not be severely punished for contempt if the matters are proven against him to the satisfaction of the Court”.

Mr Agyapong, however, issued a statement apologising for the infraction.

In an apology letter to the Chief Justice, judges and magistrates, Mr Agyapong said: “I am writing this apology letter in my capacity as Ghanaian and a Member of Parliament for the Assin Central Constituency of the Central Region.

“Respectfully, I have been sued as a defendant in case title: Emmanuel Mompi and 2 ORS vs Honourable Kennedy Ohene Agyapong (Suit No. LD/1028/2020).

“Subsequent to the suit, an order was made against me without my knowledge which made me very furious and angry, thus, concerning me to express my dismay and anger towards the court order on a live television programme called ‘The Seat’ on NET2 television station on 2nd day of September 2020.

“However, upon sober reflection, I’ve come to the realisation that without prejudice to the substantive case, my expression about the court opinion was harsh, thus, I find it necessary to render an unqualified apology without any reservation whatsoever to the Honourable Chief Justice, judges and magistrates and any individual who have been offended by my uncomplimentary comments.

“Thus, prior to the communication of this matter, I’ve appeared on the same platform on the 7th day of September 2020 and rendered same apology to the Honourable Chief Justice, judges and magistrates.

“I must conclude that I strongly believe in our judicial system and can never denigrate its integrity.

“Indeed, I was set free by the court when I was charged with treason in 2012.”