The Presidency has responded to the press engagement by suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, describing her public comments as a breach of the confidentiality required by the Constitution in ongoing Article 146 proceedings.
Addressing an emergency press briefing on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, stated that while the Chief Justice is entitled to express her views, the public nature of her address contradicts the constitutional requirement of confidentiality.
“We respect the rights of Her Ladyship the Chief Justice to express any view that she holds about the matter in question to the extent that it is consistent with the rules, because the Constitution makes it clear what the processes are in determining a matter of the sorts that we are engaged with,” he said.
READ: Current proceedings could endanger Ghana’s democratic institutions – Gertrude Torkornoo
He noted that the Presidency, on behalf of His Excellency the President, has refrained from public commentary out of respect for these same constitutional provisions, and it would have been preferable if the Chief Justice had done the same.
“The Constitution requires confidentiality on the part of all parties. It is the reason why the Presidency… has refrained from commentary on the matter beyond stating what the President has done in compliance with the Constitution,” he explained.
“It would have been desirable that that constitutional provision was respected by Her Ladyship the Chief Justice so that we do not have to engage in public commentary up until the time that the committee looking into the matter makes their determination,” he added.
Kwakye Ofosu further stated that it was only due to “certain misimpressions” created at the Chief Justice’s media briefing that the government felt compelled to respond.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Emmanuel Mensah
