Impeachment of Chief Justice begins as citizen petitions President Akufo-Addo

A Ghanaian citizen by name Mensah Thompson has petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the first step to have the Chief Justice, Sophia Akufo, impeached.

He is citing “stated incompetence” as the grounds to have the head of the judicial arm of government removed from office.

Article 146 (6) of the 1992 Constitution states that if the president is petitioned for the removal of the Chief Justice, he shall in consultation with the Council of State appoint a committee consisting of two justices of the Supreme Court.

“The committee appointed under clause (6) of this article shall inquire into the petition and recommend to the President whether the Chief Justice ought to be removed from office.”

Mr Thompson stated in his petition, “the conduct of the sitting Chief Justice…clearly shows her incompetence in managing the highest office of the judiciary which has a constitutional mandate to be fair, just and equitable in the application of the laws of Ghana”.

Explaining himself, the petitioner said the African Court for Human and People’s Rights (AfCHPR) last year issued a provisional measure to have all proceedings halted on the Woyome V Republic of Ghana case.

“Mr. President, last year when the interim measure was issued on the state, there were several pronouncements by the deputy Attorney General Godfred Dame indicating that Ghana was not bound by the measure,” he stated in his petition to President Akufo-Addo on Monday.

“It was a bit worrying to see the deputy attorney general espouse a position that was clearly in contravention with Article 40 under which the treaty derives its powers locally.

“More worrying was the Supreme Court also came out with a position that it does not share it’s powers with any other body.”

The Executive Director of the Alliance For Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) stressed he finds it a duty to defend the provisions of the constitution.

He said he had initially written to the Chief Justice over the issue, even reminding her of her role while Vice President and later President of AfCHPR.

The petition also demands the removal of the Attorney General, Gloria Afua Akufo, and a Deputy, Godfred Dame.