By Iddi Yire
Accra, March 28, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has given Chief Justice
Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, 10 days ultimatum to respond to three petitions seeking her removal from office.
Dr Callistus Mahama, Executive Secretary to the President in a reply to a letter from the Chief Justice demanding copies of the petitions from the President, said accordingly, the Chief Justice was respectfully requested to submit her preliminary response to the petitions within 10 days of receipt of the President’s letter to facilitate further consultation between the President and the Council of State.
The letter said the President had received three petitions from three individuals requesting of her removal as Chief Justice.
It said two of the letters were dated 14th February 2025, and the third is dated 17th March 2025.
The President attached copies of the three petitions in his reply to the Chief Justice’s letter.
It said following the receipt of these petitions, on 24th March, 2025, the President wrote to the Chairman of the Council of State forwarding the petitions and informing Council that, in accordance with the consultation process required under Article 146(6), he intends, as an initial step, to send the petitions to the Chief Justice for her preliminary comments or response.
It noted that on 27th March 2025, the President received responses from the Chairman of the Council of State consenting to this request.
It said copies of the letters from the Chairman of the Council of State were also attached to the President’s reply to the Chief Justice.
The letter said upon receipt of the petitions, the President was advised that per Frank Agyei Twum v Attorney General and Bright Akwetey 120052006] SCGLR 732, the confidentiality attached to proceedings under Article 146 also extends to documents and other relevant material employed in the proceedings.
“His Excellency, however, notes with disappointment that your letter of 27th March 2025 addressed to him was circulating on social media even before he could review its contents,” the letter stated.
It said the Chief Justice’s letter was reportedly shared as an attachment to another letter she wrote to the President of the Supreme Court, the President of the Association of Magistrates and Judges and the President of the Ghana Bar Association.
“Therefore, we are constrained to mark each page of the attachments to this letter “restricted.””
The letter said the President assures the Chief Justice that due process would be followed in handling the matter and that she would be given a full and fair opportunity to be heard.
GNA
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