By Franklin Asare‑Donkoh
A former Director of the Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansah‑Asare, says suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo should issue an unqualified apology to President John Dramani Mahama and the nation for what he calls an “utter betrayal” of the 1992 Constitution.
Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints on Saturday, 28 June, Mr Ansah‑Asare described Justice Torkornoo’s 25 June press conference as “disrespectful and uncalled‑for”. At that briefing, the Chief Justice, currently facing an Article 146 impeachment inquiry, claimed there was a political plot within the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to remove her from office.
Justice Torkornoo questioned the legality of the in‑camera hearings being conducted by the committee set up to investigate petitions sent to the President. She argued that the confidential process undermines judicial independence and violates due‑process principles, adding that she has asked the Supreme Court to order a public hearing.
Mr Ansah‑Asare insists the Chief Justice overstepped. “She knows the President’s hands are tied once a petition is received,” he said, noting that Article 146 obliges the President to act on such petitions after consulting the Council of State. “She must apologise; what she did breaches the Constitution she swore to uphold.”
President Mahama has confirmed that he followed the constitutional procedure: seeking the Council of State’s advice and establishing a committee to probe the allegations against the Chief Justice.
Justice Torkornoo maintains that keeping the proceedings secret erodes public confidence in the judiciary. The government has so far declined her request for an open hearing.
One Response
Please, let’s be truthful Honest to ourselves, and I hope and pray God Almighty will make a way Amen, Now, because of multiple problems with humanity one needs to look back at our constitution and update time in time to reset the mind of Ghanaians, Population growth is the major issue beloved country Ghana.