Chief Justice should be removed - Prof. Kwaku Asare

Democracy and Development Fellow at CDD-Ghana, Prof. Kwaku Asare, has called for the removal of the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, from office.

This call comes in response to a letter from the CJ to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in which she submitted five names for nomination to the Supreme Court.

In her letter, the Chief Justice cited the heavy workload and numerous pending cases as reasons for the recommendations.

Despite support from the Majority in Parliament and other government officials, her actions have faced significant criticisms.

Explaining his call for her removal to Raymond Acquah on Upfront on the JoyNews channel, Prof. Asare argued that the Chief Justice’s conduct is not constitutionally backed.

He warned that such actions could have severe implications for justice delivery in the country.

"The appointment, the letter, the suggestion should not even have happened. One other problem is you write that to the president and the president says let me do it if the Chief Justice wants it, so that when I want something she can also do it for me and there are so many things wrong with this.

"It really breaks my heart that Justice Torkornoo has found herself in this dilemma and it is with pain that I am saying she should be removed. But the constitution is the document that governs us and if you violate it, I am going to aggressively suggest that you should be removed," myjoyonline.com quoted Prof Asare as having said.

Justice Gertrude Torkornoo's letter to President Akufo-Addo included the names of Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, who is currently presiding over the Ato Forson ambulance procurement trial, as well as Justice Cyra Pamela Koranteng, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, Justice Eric Kyei Baffuour, and Justice Angelina Mensah Homiah.

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