Accra, March 25, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has referred three petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo to the Council of State for consultation, in line with constitutional requirements.

A statement issued by the Spokesperson to the President, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, stated that the petitions had been submitted by various individuals. 

The move marks the beginning of the process outlined under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, which governs the procedure for the removal of a Chief Justice.

The Council of State is expected to advise the President on the next steps as required by law. 

The nature of the petitions and the specific allegations against the Chief Justice were not disclosed in the statement.

Chief Justice Torkornoo was sworn into office on June 12, 2023, succeeding Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, who retired in May 2023.

Prior to her appointment as Chief Justice, Justice Torkornoo served as a Justice of the Supreme Court, having been appointed to the apex court in 2019. 

She joined the Judicial Service in 2004 as one of the first Justices of the Commercial Division of the High Court.

Throughout her judicial career, she is credited with playing significant roles in judicial reforms, including serving as vice chair and later chair of the E-Justice Oversight and Implementation Committee, and as a member of the faculty and Governing Board of the Judicial Training Institute.

Justice Torkornoo is the third female Chief Justice in Ghana’s history, following Justices Georgina Theodora Wood and Sophia Akuffo.

GNA

BAS

A growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in job applications risks employers hiring candidates who cannot do the work, a business owner has said.

Advertising boss James Robinson said he and other business leaders were seeing a “real trend” in applicants using generative AI chatbots, and warned that candidates who were good at using the technology could “engineer” the process without being “capable of doing the job”.

Careers adviser Megan Cooper said that while AI could be a useful tool for job hunters, it should never replace “human judgement”.

A recent survey of more than 2,000 job applicants in the UK found just under half had used AI to help them with the application process.

Mr Robinson, who runs Hello Starling, a Cardiff-based advertising agency, said vacancies at his business were attracting applications that were riddled with AI-generated sentences.

“There are some common sentences that we see. People are always trying to ‘leverage their skillset’,” he said.

“They’re often saying things like ‘my skills align with your organisation’s objectives and goals’.”

He said the chatbot ChatGPT confirmed that these were phrases it was likely to generate for a covering letter.

“[It is] very difficult for me to try and work out who is real, versus which ones are robots,” he admitted.

Mr Robinson shared his experiences of receiving AI-generated job applications on LinkedIn and said the responses from other business leaders “really surprised” him.

“I was really, really surprised to receive messages from people saying, ‘I’m in exactly the same boat as you. How are we going to tell them apart?’

“You know, ‘do we need to be using AI to fight against this and get on top of it?’

“So I think it is a real challenge in itself, but I don’t think that I’m alone.”

Mr Robinson said however that “appropriate” use of AI could help his business, and that the technology was helping applicants to be more succinct in their applications.

What is AI?

AI allows computers to learn and solve problems in ways that can seem human.

Computers cannot think, empathise or reason, but scientists have developed systems that can perform tasks which usually require human intelligence, trying to replicate how people acquire and use knowledge.

Generative AI is used to create new content which can feel like it has been made by a human. It does this by learning from vast quantities of existing data such as online text and images.

At Cardiff Metropolitan University, careers advisor Megan Cooper said she was trying to steer students through the ethics of using AI as they applied for jobs.

“AI can be used as a tool. It can be used as an aid. It’s something that can complement, but absolutely not replace, human judgement,” said Ms Cooper.

Ms Cooper said that in many cases, students were responding to an expectation from employers that candidates understood Generative AI and could use it with confidence.

“They don’t want to be seen as cheating or getting it wrong in any way at all.”

She said the university was encouraging students to understand when it was appropriate to use AI.

“Maybe that’s in the research stages of the application process. It might be asking AI to give feedback or help structure their CV.

“Maybe it’s asking AI to help read a cover letter that they have already written to help refine it and help it sound a little bit more eloquent.”

Ultimately the job interview process required applicants to ensure “what makes them unique is able to shine through”, she added.

‘It’s too much of a risk’

Student Jasmine James, 18, said she was avoiding using AI for her university work.

“I feel like it’s too much of a risk, with plagiarism and stuff like that,” she said.

“But I can understand why people do use it, because it is a quicker and easier alternative.

“I just feel like the information isn’t always correct, so it’s best to avoid it for uni work.”

Fellow student Jacob Morgan, 19, said he believed AI could be a “really helpful tool”.

“I use it a lot, especially instead of Google. Sometimes I’ll just search up on AI instead, because you get better results. So it’s definitely very useful,” he said.

AI technology was “here to stay” and “it’s only going to get better and better”, he added.

Timothy Mitchell, who is in his second year of studying computer security at Cardiff Metropolitan University, said he believed those who did not use artificial intelligence were “cheating themselves”.

“Everybody uses it. Tutors use it, employers use it,” he said.

Mr Mitchell accepted there were “definitely some fears” around the wider use of AI, “but I personally believe they are somewhat unfounded”.

He added: “What humans are best at is the creative stuff and creating new things. And AI, by principle, can’t think beyond what it’s been taught.”

Generative AI could be used “in a way that aids us rather than replaces us”, he added.

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The Second Deputy Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has criticised the Attorney General, Dr Dominic Ayine, for using the media to address legal matters instead of following the proper judicial process.

His remarks followed a media briefing by Dr. Ayine regarding the ongoing investigations into the government’s anti-corruption drive and the “Operation Recover All Loot” initiative, which took place yesterday.

During the briefing, Dr. Ayine discussed various corruption cases under investigation. However, Mr. Shaib expressed concerns about how these cases were being handled in the public domain, rather than through formal legal channels.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse Show, Mr. Shaib questioned why the Attorney General would resort to the media instead of pursuing the cases in court.

“If the Attorney General has every reason to prosecute someone, why come to the media?” Mr. Shaib asked. “The media is not giving the alleged person the opportunity to respond. Does that make sense?”

Mr. Shaib further stressed that accusations of criminal behaviour should be addressed through the legal system, where individuals can defend themselves before a judge.

“If you have evidence that someone is involved in a criminal enterprise, the right thing to do is go to court,” he explained. “When you go to court, you present your evidence, and the judges will have their say. They will determine whether the person has, in fact, committed the offence.”

The MP expressed disappointment with what he saw as the Attorney General’s approach, labelling it as “political crucifixion” rather than the pursuit of justice.

“What you have done is not justice; it’s political crucifixion,” Mr. Shaib remarked. “You are using the media for this, not the courts. This is not the proper way to handle legal matters.”

He also raised concerns about the political motivations behind the Attorney General’s actions, suggesting that they might resemble tactics sometimes employed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

“If the OSP sometimes engages in this, is the Attorney General now following suit? Are we now engaging in press crucifixion? Is that what we want to do?” he asked.

Mr. Shaib concluded by emphasising that legal matters should be handled in the proper judicial framework, ensuring a fair trial and the presumption of innocence.

He expressed concern that public media trials could unfairly damage reputations without due process.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Accra, March 25, GNA – Advocates for Biodiversity Conservation (ABC), a non-profit environmental organisation, has raised concerns over the uncontrolled harvesting of bamboo, warning of severe environmental and economic consequences if urgent action is not taken. 

Bamboo, a vital natural resource in Ghana, plays a key role in environmental protection, livelihoods, and cultural heritage. 

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Mr. Vincent Awotwe-Pratt, Director of Technical Operations at ABC, said bamboo prevents soil erosion, provides wildlife habitats, and regulates water cycles.  

“Many communities also depend on bamboo for construction, crafts, furniture, and as a fuel source. However, unsustainable harvesting is threatening its availability, raising alarms among environmentalists,” he said. 

Mr. Awotwe-Pratt explained that cutting bamboo without regulation was unsustainable and harmed natural habitats, destabilizing the environment by increasing the risk of soil erosion, flooding, and biodiversity loss. 

He noted that Ghana lacked strong policies to regulate bamboo harvesting, leading to over-exploitation, with no significant efforts to restore or expand bamboo forests. 

Mr. Awotwe-Pratt, an ecologist, called for policy reforms to ensure sustainable bamboo management.  

This includes setting harvesting limits, encouraging replanting, and raising public awareness about bamboo conservation. 

“We need a collective effort from government agencies, local communities, and environmental groups to ensure that bamboo remains a renewable resource,” he said. 

Mr. Awotwe-Pratt emphasised that sustainable bamboo management in Ghana could contribute to climate change mitigation. 

“Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that absorbs carbon dioxide at a higher rate than most trees, making it an effective tool for reforestation and afforestation projects.  

“It can also rehabilitate land degraded by illegal mining (galamsey) by absorbing harmful chemicals from the soil,” he said. 

Mr. Awotwe-Pratt warned that without immediate action, Ghana risks losing a vital natural resource. 

“The preservation of bamboo is not just about saving a plant; it is about safeguarding the future of Ghana’s biodiversity and ensuring a greener, more sustainable tomorrow,” he said.

GNA 

KAS 

Ken Thompson, former Chief Executive Officer of Dalex Finance, has delivered a scathing critique of former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration, accusing it of running the economy aground.

Speaking on Channel One TV‘s Face to Face on Tuesday, Thompson expressed frustration over the former government’s handling of key issues.

“They run the economy aground,” Thompson stated, emphasising the dire consequences of the administration’s policies.

He accused former President Akufo-Addo of prioritising personal interests over the needs of the people.

“He was more interested in himself than anybody else. He wasn’t addressing the issues that faced the people,” Thompson remarked.

Thompson highlighted the suffering endured by young Ghanaians, pointing to widespread economic hardships.

Reflecting on his attempts to engage the President, Thompson revealed his disappointment in the lack of action.

“I felt that after I had spoken to Ken and he didn’t listen, I needed to go further and make a point and say, ‘President, look, you are destroying the lives of millions of Ghanaians,’” he added.

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