Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Political Science Department, has lauded suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s resolve to fight what he views as an attempt to remove her without a thorough and transparent process.
According to him, the public nature of the case offers the country a unique opportunity to reflect on judicial accountability and the rule of law.
“I am happy that the Chief Justice is fighting to the end, and I am happy this is happening in the open for all to see. At the end of the day, I hope we learn something valuable as a country,” he said on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, May 22.
He added, “What makes me even more satisfied is that the Chief Justice has not allowed herself to be an easy target; she’s fighting back with the law, and that’s commendable.”
Justice Torkornoo, currently on suspension, is facing three petitions for her removal from office. She has petitioned the Supreme Court to disqualify two members of the committee overseeing the inquiry, Justices Gabriel Scott Pwamang and Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu.
The petition names Justices Pwamang and Adibu-Asiedu, along with former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo, Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo, and Professor James Sefah Dzisah, as respondents.
Justice Torkornoo is also asking the Supreme Court to restrain the committee composed of the second to sixth respondents from proceeding with any further actions relating to the inquiry.
She was suspended by President John Mahama under Article 146 of the Constitution, pending the outcome of the proceedings.
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