By Charles S. Amponsah
Parliament‘s Appointments Committee deadlocked on Monday over the report produced by a separate committee that led to the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, during the vetting of her successor, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
The five-member committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, who was present during the sitting, was tasked by President John Dramani Mahama to investigate a prima facie case against the outgoing Chief Justice, following consultations with the Council of State under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin argued that the committee’s process and the removal of Her Ladyship were unfair and amounted to a “travesty of justice”.
“The Minority holds the view that the Committee’s work, resulting in the removal of Her Ladyship Justice Araba Gertrude Torkornoo, was unfair, lacked due process, and amounts to a travesty of justice. We also protest attempts by the Majority to obstruct our remarks in this process,” Afenyo-Markin said in his opening remarks.
He added that the former Chief Justice herself had previously contested the accusations, calling the process “unconstitutional” and “politically driven”. Torkornoo had filed a case at the ECOWAS Court of Justice to challenge the legality of the proceedings before her official dismissal and later filed another suit at the High Court to stop the appointment of her successor.
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga objected, insisting that the rules governing parliamentary committee proceedings were clear.
“Before this committee of Parliament, the rules are clear on what can be raised and how. You are not in court challenging the conduct of the committee. You have not shown any breach of constitutional rules. How can you describe the work as opaque, a travesty of justice, or improper removal, and expect me to allow it? You are violating the rules,” Ayariga said.
Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, intervened to calm the proceedings, noting that although Justice Pwamang was present, he and other committee members would not have an opportunity to respond. He ordered that any references to the committee or Justice Pwamang’s report be expunged from the official record.
“Be guided by the principles. If there is an issue involving another person who may not have the opportunity to respond, it should not be raised on the floor. Though Justice Gabriel Pwamang is present, he will not respond, and committee members will not have the chance to comment. Therefore, calling their report a ‘travesty of justice’ without giving them the opportunity to respond is itself a travesty of justice. Anything relating to the committee and Justice Pwamang is expunged from the records,” Ahiafor said.
The exchange left the committee deadlocked, prompting the Chairman to call for a brief recess.
