Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as Kwame A Plus, the member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, has waded in on President John Dramani Mahama’s removal of the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
A Plus rejected claims by some persons that the Chief Justice’s removal was purely political.
According to Kwame A-Plus, the former Chief Justice’s own actions at the Supreme Court contributed to her removal.
He quizzed critics that when Justice Torkornoo was handing down 11:0 unanimous decisions, was that grounded in technical skills?
In a statement in reaction to Justice Torkornoo’s sacking, Kwame A-Plus wrote, “Some people say the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo is grounded in politics. But let me ask: when she was handing down 11:0 unanimous decisions at the Supreme Court, was that grounded in technical and vocational skills? We told you long ago that karma is from Kyebi. Some of these things will always come back to bite you, but instead of listening, you insulted us.”
“When the Right Honourable Speaker declared seats vacant, the Supreme Court immediately granted a stay of execution. Yet, the same Court could not attach that same urgency to the SALL parliamentary case. And why? Because the Chief Justice knew that if she did, the NDC would have won and become the majority in Parliament.”
The lawmaker also recounted the case of selective justice in regards to the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) communities’ lack of representation in parliament for 4 years.
A Plus statement added, “For four solid years, the people of SALL, protected by Article 17 (1), (2), and (3), like any other Ghanaian, were denied representation in Parliament simply because Akufo-Addo thought Ghana belonged to him, and Torkonoo believed she was untouchable. How could you do this to your fellow citizens?”
“This is a lesson for all of us: when you use your position of power to do people ‘yawa’ in Ayawaso, don’t complain if they attempt to ‘kum’ you at Ablekuma.”
The lawmaker revealed he feels sad for Justice Torkornoo, but alleged that she use her office for trivial gains or simply to satisfy Akufo-Addo.
“It’s unfortunate, and honestly, I feel sad for her. If for nothing at all, she is from Gomoa Mpota, in the Gomoa Central Constituency. But like many of the previous government appointees, she too sacrificed everything she had worked so hard to achieve — either for trivial gains or simply to satisfy Akufo-Addo. It is what it is!”, his statement concluded.
Also, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, the Director of Legal Affairs for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has backed President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to sack the Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
According to Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, President Mahama acted in accordance with the Constitution.
He noted unlike Pontius Pilate, who had the option to wash his hands, President Mahama had no option done to follow the Committee’s recommendation to remove the Chief Justice.
Speaking on TV3’s Election Command Centre during the coverage of the Akwatia by-election, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo stated, “They had in it (Constitution) an Article called 146 which basically says our superior court judges are given what we call security of office, that is to say, you cannot remove them, unless on proven stated misbehaviour, incompetence, infirmity etc”.
He added, “What has happened basically is that President John Dramani Mahama finds himself in the position of Pontius Pilate where the Pharisees, Sadducees, and what have you had to present a petition and hear for the removal of the Chief Justice.”
“Basically, for the Constitution and how the Constitution has been interpreted over the period, the President is only a conveyor belt in the circumstance. And so again, like Pontius Pilate, what you would have to do is to consult the Council of State”
“In this case, you do not have the benefit of washing your hands. The Constitution clearly gives a duty, a duty is cast on the President to act in a particular manner. Having consulted the elders (Council of State), a prima facie case was determined against the Chief Justice, now removed,” he highlighted.
Their comments come following President John Mahama’s sacking of the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect after he received a first report from the five-member committee he constituted to investigate three petitions brought against the Chief Justice.
Hours after President Mahama received the committee reports, Chief Justice Torkornoo was sacked with immediate effect.
A statement from the presidency stated, “President John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, removed the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect”.
“This follows receipt of the report of the Committee constituted under Article 146(6) to inquire into a petition submitted by a Ghanaian citizen, Mr. Daniel Ofori. After considering the petition and the evidence, the Committee found that the grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) had been established and recommended her removal from office.
“Under Article 146(9), the President is required to act in accordance with the Committee’s recommendation,” the statement concluded.
A leaked document on social media concluded that Justice Torkornoo had engaged in conduct amounting to “stated misbehaviour” under Article 146(1).
The Key finding read, “Unlawful expenditure of public funds: The committee held that the Chief Justice caused the Judicial Service to pay travel expenses for her husband and daughter during private holiday trips in 2023, including per diem allowances. This, the report stated, was an “avoidable and reckless dissipation of public funds.”
Abuse of discretionary power: The committee found that her handling of the transfer of one Mr. Baiden breached Article 296(a) and (b) of the Constitution, describing the act as misbehaviour.
Interference in judicial appointments: The report also noted that she sought to bypass the established process for nominating Justices of the Supreme Court, contrary to precedent set in the Ghana Bar Association case. The committee concluded this amounted to misbehaviour”.
The committee subsequently recommended her removal in accordance with Article 146(7). President Mahama, bound by Article 146(9), which makes the President’s action mandatory once such a recommendation is made, formally removed Justice Torkornoo by Warrant of Removal under the Presidential Seal.
Meanwhile, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the most senior Supreme Court judge, was appointed by President Mahama to act as Chief Justice during the investigation process.
President Mahama is now expected to name former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo’s successor in the coming days.
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