No time frame for committee probing petition against Chief Justice Torkornoo to finish work but... - Felix Kwakye Ofosu
There is no time frame for the committee probing the three petitions asking for Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo to be removed from office to finish its work.
But it is expected that the committee will act within a reasonable time frame, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu has said.
The committee's work starts immediately, but it is not clear how long the work will take in terms of investigating the allegations in the petition and making a determination.
Related: President Mahama suspends Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo
"The constitution does not impose timelines and I [Felix Kwakye Ofosu] believe that these [members of committee] are experienced people, we have two eminent jurists, very senior jurists who are on the Supreme Court [bench], so [they] have capacity in my view to establish a process that is conducive enough for the Chief Justice to be given sufficient time and space to answer to the claims made against her in the petition," the minister of state said in a radio interview with Citi FM, monitored by Graphic Online.
"I do not anticipate that they will go beyond a reasonable time frame, even though I cannot give you a specific time frame, because no such time is prescribed by the constitution," he added.
Mr Kwakye Ofosu was answering a question on whether in appointing the members of the committee, President Mahama gave any time limits within which they could work.
"No such time limits were given, it is expected that they will act within a reasonable time because the president cannot do anything that is not prescribed by the constitution, the constitution does not impose any timelines," the minister added.
Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo was nominated to the Supreme Court in November 2019 and received parliamentary approval in December 2019.
She started working as Chief Justice in June 2023 following the retirement of Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah.
Prior to that, she had been working as High Court judge from May 2004 and was elevated to the Court of Appeal in October 2012.
Following the determination of a prima facie case in the three petitions asking for the removal from office of Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday [April 22, 2025] suspended her and set up a five-member committee to inquire into the petitions.
The committee is chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, a Justice on the Supreme Court bench.
Justice Pwamang was appointed to the Supreme Court bench in 2015.
Other members are Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, also a Justice on the Supreme Court bench, who was appointed in 2022.
Others in the five-member committee are Mr Daniel Yaw Domelevo, a former Auditor-General, Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), and Professor James Sefah Dzisah, an associate Professor at the University of Ghana.
There are three petitions asking that Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo should be removed from office for "stated misbehaviour" in line with the 1992 Constitution.
President John Dramani Mahama upon receiving the petitions, forwarded it to the Council of State for advice in establishing a prima facie case.
Following that, the Presidency in a press statement issued on Tuesday afternoon [April 22, 2025] by the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu stated that in consultation with the Council of State, there has been a determination of a prima facie case in respect of the three petitions against Chief Justice Torkornoo.
"The President has consequently, established a committee in compliance with Article 146(6) of the Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State with the following composition to inquire into the petitions which have been referred to them.
Attached below is a copy of the press statement
President Mahama suspends Chief Justice after setting up committee to probe petitions
President John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with Article 146(6) of the Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, determined that a prima facie case has been established in respect of three petitions against the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
The President has consequently, established a committee in compliance with Article 146(6) of the Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State with the following composition to inquire into the petitions which have been referred to them.
1. Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Justice of the Supreme Court - Chairman
2. Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Justice of the Supreme Court - Member
3. Daniel Yaw Domelevo (Former Auditor-General) - Member
4. Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo (Ghana Armed Forces) - Member
5. Professor James Sefah Dzisah (Associate Professor, University of Ghana) Member
Pursuant to Article 146(10) of the constitution and in accordance with the advice of the Council of State, the President has by a warrant, suspended the Chief Justice with immediate effect pending the outcome of the committee's proceedings.
Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh
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