By: Ashiadey Dotse
Former Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has asked President John Mahama to stop consulting the Council of State over the possible removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. This call follows a court case that is yet to be settled. The case was filed by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Member of Parliament for Old Tafo.
He argues that the Chief Justice was not given a fair chance to respond to the petitions against her before the consultation process began. His legal team believes this violates her right to a fair hearing.
Speaking to journalists at the Supreme Court on Wednesday April 9, 2025, Mr. Dame said it would be wrong for the President to continue the consultation while the court has not yet ruled on the matter.
”There is an application for an injunction pending. It would be a clear disregard for the rule of law to go ahead,” he said. “It’s not just my view, it’s what the law requires.”
Mr. Dame also pointed to an affidavit filed by the Attorney General’s office, which he said shows that the Chief Justice was not meant to be heard before the consultation process started.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has postponed the hearing of the case without setting a new date. This was because the Attorney General’s office was absent, as about 50 state attorneys were attending a training programme to prepare for cases at the ECOWAS Court.
Godfred Dame expressed surprise that both Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine and his deputy, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, were not in court, suggesting the case should have taken priority. He had asked for the case to be adjourned to Monday, April 14.
The case challenges President Mahama’s decision to act on three petitions to remove the Chief Justice without first allowing her to respond, as outlined under Article 146(6) of Ghana’s Constitution.
WATCH: CJ Removal Petitions: Court to Hear Injunction on Presidential, Council of State Deliberations || 9th April 2025
