Mahama receives first report on petitions seeking removal of Chief Justice

Article 146 committee submits first report on petitions seeking removal of Chief Justice.

President John Dramani Mahama received, this morning, the first report of the Article 146 Committee of Inquiry, which is probing three petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.

Presenting the report at a brief ceremony at the Presidency, the Committee’s Chair, Justice Gabriel Pwamang, said the panel conducted its work in camera, in line with Article 146(7) and (8), and refrained from public commentary despite “blatant false statements made about members of the committee and our work.”

“In camera proceedings are not the same as in secret,” he noted, explaining that limited procedural details could be shared without disclosing the substance.

On the first petition, filed by Mr. Daniel Ofori, the committee heard evidence from 13 witnesses on behalf of the petitioner. The Chief Justice, who also testified and was cross-examined, called 12 witnesses, including experts.

In all, the panel received about 10,000 pages of documentary exhibits from both sides. Each side was represented by four lawyers.

“After critical and dispassionate examination and assessment of all the evidence, including the expert evidence against the provisions of the Constitution and the relevant laws, we have, without fear or favour, arrived at a recommendation on the first petition,” the Chair said, before handing the recommendation to the President in a sealed envelope.

The Chair disclosed that the second petitioner, as well as the Chief Justice, requested an adjournment of the second petition, which the committee granted.

“Accordingly, we shall be reporting on the second and third petitions in due time,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Education Minister, Dr. Clement Apaak, has stated that the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the United Kingdom Bar Council have been misled into issuing a call for the suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo.

In a post online, he said those who convinced them to push for such a move publicly had only sought to mislead them with unfounded claims.

Dr. Apaak, who also serves as Builsa South Member of Parliament (MP), noted that the two associations had risked their reputations by putting out such a “colonialist-induced” statement.

He said he was surprised by the joint statement, urging the two entities to withdraw and render an apology to the Ghanaian public.

“It baffles me how you are strangely unhappy with lawful actions undertaken as dictated by the constitution of our nation,” the lawmaker who could not hide his contempt for the release wrote. “Your collaborators have deceived you into damaging your reputation with these baseless demands. Withdraw your unjustified statement, and apologise to Ghanaians.”