By Iddi Yire
Accra, Sept. 1, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama on Monday received the report of the Article 146 Committee of Inquiry into petitions for the removal of the Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
Mr Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, a Supreme Court Judge and Chairman of the Article 146 Committee presented the report of the Committee to President Mahama at the Presidency in Accra.
In March this year, the President received three petitions pursuant to Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution for the removal of Chief Justice Torkornoo, and the public was made aware of this fact.
The subsequent processes, as dictated by the Constitution and the decisions of the Supreme Court, were followed, culminating in the establishment of the Committee under Article 146, Clause 6 of the Constitution.
The nation was further duly informed, and the Committee commenced its work on 15th May, 2025.
Mr Justice Pwamang in his remarks noted that there had been considerable interest in their work shown through comments and opinions by Ghanaians and international observers as well.
He said, however, the Committee restrained itself all along from reacting even when blatant false statements were made about members of the committee and their work.
“To the Committee, our mandate and remit as set out under Article 146 Clauses (7) and (8) of the Constitution is clear and it is to inquire into the petitions in camera, hear the person against whom the petitions have been brought in her defence by herself or by a lawyer or other expert of her choice and then to make a recommendation to the President,” he said.
“As I have said supra, three petitions were referred to us and though all three petitions seek for the same relief, each petition is distinct and would succeed or fail on its individual strengths and weaknesses.”
Mr Justice Pwamang said: “Mr President, without disclosing the substance of the proceedings, and since in camera proceedings is not the same as in secret, we can state that in respect of the first petition, we received evidence by Mr Daniel Ofori, the first petitioner, through thirteen witnesses”.
He said similarly, the Chief Justice in her defence also called 12 witnesses including expert witnesses as she was entitled to do under the Constitution.
He said the Chief Justice testified personally at the inquiry and was cross- examined.
He said the Committee received about 10,000 pages of documentary exhibits from both sides.
Mr Pwamang said there were four lawyers that represented the first petitioner and four lawyers represented the Chief Justice.
“Mr President, 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,” he said.
“The recommendation is contained in this envelope, which we hereby hand over to you”.
The Chairman said the second petitioner as well as the Chief Justice pleaded with the Committee that the second petition which would have been next to be inquired into be adjourned and the Committee acceded to their requests.
“Accordingly, we shall be reporting on the second and third petitions in due time,” he said.
Members of the Article 146 Committee of Inquiry into petitions for the removal of the Chief Justice Torkornoo include: Justice Mr Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, a Supreme Court Judge; Mr Daniel Yao Domlevo, a former Auditor-General; Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces; and Professor James Sefah Dzisah, Associate Professor at the University of Ghana.
GNA
Christian Akorlie