Kwasi Kwarteng, a legal practitioner and member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Communications Team, has criticised the Council of State for its role in the suspension of Ghana’s Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
Speaking on GHTODAY on GHONETV with Lily Mohammed on Tuesday, July 1, Mr Kwarteng described the Council of State as a “rubber stamp” that has allowed itself to be used to facilitate what he believes is a politically motivated attack on the judiciary.
“My disappointment is with the Council of State. And I say this in humility, but in firmness, that they should be ashamed for allowing themselves to be used as a conduit to facilitate this politically motivated attack on the judiciary,” he said.
He questioned how the Council of State could go through the petitions presented against the Chief Justice and conclude that there was a question to answer.
“I find it very surprising why this current Council of State could sit and after going through these petitions came to the conclusion that indeed there was some question to answer. I was very surprised. And it presupposes that the Council of State has been reduced to an appendage of the process and, of course, just a rubber stamp to facilitate the wish of the President,” he stated.
He cited one of the allegations in the petitions, explaining that it bordered on travel allowances.
“What is the point that the CJ travelled with her husband, was given fourteen thousand dollars, she spent four thousand four hundred dollars and returned about nine thousand dollars to the state, consequently she has to be removed, and the Council of State so pretended over this petition came to the conclusion that indeed there is a prima facie determination that has to be made,” he said.
Mr Kwarteng described the Council of State’s actions as “very very disappointing” and called on them to be more patriotic in protecting the state and the judiciary.
“These are high profile people who have achieved, who have seen everything in life, and I’m sure within the intent of the premise of the constitution they knew that at such level they would have been a bit more patriotic in protecting the state,” he noted.
He also warned against setting a precedent that construes the office of the Chief Justice as another appointee of the President.
“I mean he’s bent on removing this CJ even before coming into power but what we are reminding him is that he should not be remembered for setting the precedent for rewriting Article 146 to construe the office of the Chief Justice to be another appointee of the President. It’s totally wrong. It’s so unacceptable. The Chief Justice is just being victimized needlessly,” he added.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Emmanuel Mensah
