The Minority in Parliament is urging President John Dramani Mahama and Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine to publicly respond to serious allegations made by suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo regarding her ongoing impeachment proceedings.
Addressing the Press in Parliament on Friday, June 27, MP for Asokwa, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, criticised the silence from the Presidency and Attorney General 48 hours after the Chief Justice’s public statement.
He called for an immediate response to address her claims.
“We are of the view that irrespective of what we think of her, there is a presumption of innocence until she is proven guilty. In that sense, it is very important that all her rights to protect her innocence are called at her.”
The Asokwa MP also raised concerns about procedural irregularities, particularly the lack of transparency around the prima facie determination by the President and the Council of State, a critical step in initiating impeachment proceedings.
“She makes a very fundamental point which underpins the principles of innocence. The point is that according to her, as of now, she does not have notice of the prima facie determination by the President and the Council of State. And that for us is a very worrying situation,” he explained.
Baffour Awuah stressed that without this determination, the legal basis for the impeachment process is questionable.
“For you to appreciate the significance of the prima facie determination, it is important to note that without the prima facet determination, this whole hearing would not have been constituted. In other words, in the absence of the prima facie determination, there wouldn’t have been the need for the President and the Council of State, consistent with the Constitution, to put together a hearing for the case of the Chief Justice,” he added.
This comes after Justice Torkornoo who is facing removal under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, at a press conference on Wednesday, June 25, described the process as unconstitutional, flawed, and politically motivated.
She also insisted that resigning would wrongly suggest an admission of guilt and empower political actors seeking to manipulate the situation.
In a move that has sparked national debate, Justice Torkornoo raised concerns about the choice of venue for the proceedings, Adu Lodge, located along Castle Drive in Osu.
She described the venue as symbolically troubling, citing its connection to the 1981 abduction and murder of three High Court judges and a military officer, one of whom was her uncle and former guardian.
She suggested the location was chosen deliberately to intimidate her and undermine her defence.
While government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has dismissed the Chief Justice’s remarks as “most regrettable,” members of the Minority are demanding a more formal and detailed response from the President and the Attorney General.
However, the Minority insists that to uphold the integrity of Ghana’s justice system and ensure due process, the President and Attorney General must break their silence and address the concerns raised by the suspended Chief Justice.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
