President Nana Akufo-Addo has described a petition from Prof. Stephen Kwaku Asare to have the Chief Justice, Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo removed as “frivolous, vexatious and unmeritorious.”
According to the President, the petition establishes no prima facie evidence which warranted further action.
While dismissing the petition which sought to remove Justice Gertrude Torkornoo for stated misbehaviour and incompetence, the President said, “the petitioner failed to demonstrate any factual basis or provide credible documentation to substantiate these claims.”
The petition signed by Eugene Arhin, Director of Communication on Monday, January 6, 2025 for and on behalf of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, said “the petition was prematurely circulated in the public domain, in breach of Article 146(8) of the Constitution, which mandates that proceedings of this nature be held in camera to protect the integrity of the Judiciary.”
PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO DISMISSES PETITION AGAINST CHIEF JUSTICE
The Office of the President wishes to inform the general public that, after a thorough and careful review of the petition for the removal of the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in consultation with the Council of State, has concluded that the petition does not disclose a prima facie case warranting further action.
The petition was submitted by Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, citing allegations of misbehaviour and incompetence against the Chief Justice.
Upon review, the President observed several deficiencies in the petition. The principal ones were:
a)First, the petition was submitted without supporting evidence or documentation to substantiate its claims. The allegations, including claims of panel reconstitution, issuance of practice directions, and purported constitutional breaches by the Chief Justice, were found to be unsupported by evidence.
The petitioner failed to demonstrate any factual basis or provide credible documentation to substantiate these claims.
b)Second, the processes and practices cited by the petitioner, such as the Chief Justice’s administrative responsibilities under the Courts Act, were found to be consistent with the law and established practices.
The President feels constrained to observe that, contrary to constitutional provisions, the petition was prematurely circulated in the public domain, in breach of Article 146(8) of the Constitution, which mandates that proceedings of this nature be held in camera to protect the integrity of the Judiciary.
Such a violation undermines the solemnity of the process and the principles enshrined in the Constitution to safeguard judicial independence.
The President is unhappy to observe that such a violation should have been occasioned by a lawyer
Based on these findings and observations, and in alignment with the recommendations of the Council of State, the petition is deemed frivolous, vexatious and unmeritorious.
President Akufo-Addo reaffirms his unalloyed commitment to the independence and integrity of the judiciary, which remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s democracy.
The Office of the President cautions against attempts to undermine judicial independence through baseless allegations, and emphasizes the importance of adhering to constitutional provisions in addressing grievances.
