Legal practitioner and National Democratic Congress (NDC) member, Edudzi Tameklo, has pushed back against what he calls a politically motivated attempt to undermine Ghana’s judiciary through misinformation.
At the centre of the controversy is a CCTV recording that has been interpreted in sections of the media and political circles as proof of an alleged secret meeting between lawyer Thaddeus Sory and Supreme Court justices over petitions to remove suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
Tameklo, offering what he described as a “fact-based narrative,” said the video footage being cited tells a vastly different story from what has been portrayed by some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and affiliated media outlets.
He accused elements of the opposition New Patriotic Party of deliberately spinning a harmless encounter into a conspiracy to discredit both the legal process and the judiciary.
What the Footage Actually Shows
In Tameklo’s account, the CCTV footage labelled “restaurant” captures lawyer Thaddeus Sory and businessman Kotei Dzani seated at a table in a public restaurant, engaged in a routine conversation. A few minutes later, three individuals—including Supreme Court Justice Yoni Kulendi—enter the venue.
He explains that one of the judges walks by without noticing Sory. Justice Kulendi, after spotting Kotei Dzani, stops briefly to exchange pleasantries with both Dzani and Sory, in what Tameklo described as a moment of professional courtesy typical within legal circles. The interaction, he said, lasted less than a minute before Kulendi and his group continued to their table.
Another judge, initially unaware of Sory’s presence, later recognises him and is greeted in a manner Tameklo described as “standard between Bar and Bench.” At no point, he insisted, was there any indication of a formal or private meeting.
No Evidence of Impropriety
Tameklo was firm in stating that the footage contains no evidence of any unethical conduct. Crucially, Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang—one of the justices reportedly linked to the supposed meeting—does not appear in the footage at all.
“There was no private or formal meeting between Sory and the judges,” he said. “Justice Pwamang isn’t even present in the footage, and the brief exchanges captured were purely based on social decorum.”
A second video clip labelled “entrance” reportedly shows the three judges entering and exiting the restaurant in an open, non-suspicious manner, further debunking any claims of secrecy.
Public Urged to Review Footage Themselves
Tameklo called on the public to view the video for themselves and judge the situation based on facts rather than partisan interpretations.
Concluding his remarks, Tameklo warned against the growing trend of weaponising false narratives to tarnish the reputation of legal professionals and the judiciary.
The statement comes at a time of heightened tension surrounding the ongoing inquiry into Chief Justice Torkornoo’s suspension, with questions over the fairness of proceedings and transparency in judicial matters drawing nationwide attention.