Gabby Otchere-Darko, a Lawyer and leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has defended the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, following criticism over comments he made about Circuit Court Judge handling Abronye case.
According to Gabby Otchere-Darko, leadership requires courage, adding that timidity can never be a leadership option and certainly not in a democracy.
He further asserted that he doffs his hat to Alexander Afenyo-Markin for taking on the judge who displayed such troubling zeal in endorsing the imprisonment of free speech.
In a post shared on X by Gabby Otchere-Darko, he wrote, “Leadership requires courage. Timidity can never be a leadership option. Certainly not in a democracy.
Protecting human rights and guarding the dignity of our legal system require men and women of courage, conviction and patriotic verve.
That is why I doff my hat to Alexander Afenyo-Markin for taking on the judge who displayed such troubling zeal in endorsing the imprisonment of free speech.
It is mistaken to view this through the narrow prism of NPP versus NDC, or ruling party versus opposition. The implications are far broader than partisan politics. In a zeitgeist where Gen Zs cherish and actively exercise the freedom to speak their minds on social media, we must be careful of any actions by the system that appear designed to frighten citizens into silence.
Today it may be a political activist. Tomorrow it could be the journalist, the radio commentator, the student, the taxi driver, or the ordinary young Ghanaian with a smartphone and an opinion.
Let the law deal firmly with those who fall foul of it. But let it never do so by compromising the protection of fundamental human rights, due process, and the freedoms that hold our democracy together. Justice must be done and seen to be manifestly done”.
Meanwhile, Justice Abdulai, a Private legal practitioner, has demanded that the Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, be cited for contempt for his comments against a circuit court judge.
According to Justice Abdulai, Afenyo-Markin is fully aware that parliamentary immunity cannot shield him from contempt proceedings.
He described the Minority leaders’ comments against the circuit court judge as inappropriate and amounted to contempt of court.
Speaking to GHOne TV, Justice Abdulai stated, “The Minority Leader is very much aware of this. The Minority Leader is a senior lawyer. He knows very well that contempt of court is part of the process and that he cannot rely on his parliamentary immunity”.
“Historically, parliamentary immunity was designed to protect members of parliament from abuse by the executive. Today, we no longer have that kind of situation because we have systems in place to check abuses by the executive against parliamentarians,” he explained.
“And so, if a parliamentarian relies on his immunity to abuse the court, I would insist that the appropriate authorities in this particular case, unfortunately, it can only be the court, invoke its authority to cite him for contempt. And I would strongly urge that to happen,” he added.
Background
The Minority Leader launched yet another attack on a judge, this time around the circuit court judge handling the case of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, commonly known as Abronye DC.
The minority leader, speaking at a press briefing on May 17, 2026, fired shots at the circuit court judge, alleging that he doubts whether the judge passed his law exams.
According to Afenyo-Markin, he will continue to disrespect the circuit court judge until he upholds the law, alleging that the judge has no respect for his own judicial oath.
Speaking at a press briefing on May 17, 2026, Afenyo-Markin stated, “That judge has no respect for his own judicial oath. I don’t think he read the law. That circuit court judge called Niger. I have no respect for him. For a judge to say that he’s remanding him into BNI custody until the case is finally determined, such a judge can never have my respect.
“I pray that he summons me for contempt. I will continue to disrespect him until he upholds the law. He’s gone beyond his judicial function, and it is not his first time. It’s as if he has been selected purposely to achieve this. He doesn’t talk law. I don’t know whether he ever passed his law exams. He’s a shame,” he fumed.
Afenyo-Markin added, “It’s a shame on the judiciary, and my Lord Baffoe must pay attention to this, for whatever it is, it’s about his legacy. I’m told that by December, he will be 70, and he will be gone. Is that the legacy he wants to leave after Torkornoo was booted out of office and all manner of accusations levelled against Torkornoo? Is that the judiciary?
“The judiciary, they said, they were going to reset. Is that a reset? Where a judge will say he is remanding an accused person because if he allows him to go home, if he grants him bail, he’s likely to talk again, so he should remain in custody?” he said.
See the post below:
Leadership requires courage. Timidity can never be a leadership option. Certainly not in a democracy.
— Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) May 20, 2026
Protecting human rights and guarding the dignity of our legal system require men and women of courage, conviction and patriotic verve.
That is why I doff my hat to Alexander… pic.twitter.com/u1Ww8rVOiD
