By Ashiadey Dotse
Former Deputy Attorney-General, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, has strongly criticized the advice given by the Council of State to suspend Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, describing it as acidic and poisonous.
Speaking on Citi FM, Mr. Tuah-Yeboah said the Council’s advice was “acidic” and “poisonous,” warning that such a decision could badly affect Ghana’s democracy and the independence of the judiciary.
“If you advise the President to suspend the Chief Justice, you must be very careful. This has serious consequences for the country’s democracy,” he said.
The former Deputy A-G also stressed that while the Council of State can advise, the President is not bound by it. “The final decision rests with the President,” he added.
President John Dramani Mahama has suspended the Chief Justice following three petitions submitted by citizens. The Constitution requires that the Council of State be consulted before such action is taken.
A statement from the Presidency on April 22 said that a five-member committee has been formed to investigate the petitions. The committee includes two Supreme Court justices, a former Auditor-General, a military officer, and a university professor.
Meanwhile, private legal practitioner Austin Brako-Powers has also spoken against the suspension. In a Facebook post, he described it as a “needless spectacle” meant to please the ruling party’s grassroots supporters.
He warned that using political power to interfere with the judiciary could damage public trust and endanger Ghana’s democratic future.
