Committee Denies CJ’s Plea for Public Hearing as Tsikata, Sory, Lead Accusers in Closed-Door Session

The committee investigating the suspension of Ghana’s Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has come under intense public scrutiny after rejecting a request by her legal team for a public hearing.

The controversial decision was made during its first in-camera session on Thursday, 15 May 2025, drawing criticism from legal observers who argue the public has a right to transparency in such a high-profile case.

Led by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, the five-member committee includes respected figures such as former Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo and Professor James Sefah Dzisah. Their choice to invoke Article 146 of the Constitution, which mandates in-camera proceedings, was cited as the legal basis for denying the Chief Justice’s plea.

This move has been seen as a win for the three petitioners—Shining Stars of Ghana, Daniel Ofori, and ACP Ayamga Yakubu Akolgo—who are now represented by legal heavyweights.

Tsatsu Tsikata, Thaddeus Sory, and activist-lawyer Oliver Barker-Vormawor have all been confirmed as leading counsel in this high-stakes constitutional probe.

Many in the legal fraternity are questioning why the committee is relying on the High Court’s Civil Procedure Rules (C.I. 47) to guide its hearings, given the constitutional nature of the matter. Critics say this introduces procedural ambiguity into what should be a well-defined constitutional process.

Meanwhile, the Chief Justice’s legal team has vowed to fight on, raising concerns over due process and public interest.

source; ghanaweb