Gertrude Torkornoo and Mahama Ayariga

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, has defended the constitutional and procedural processes followed in the suspension of the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo.

Speaking during the vetting of Supreme Court nominee Justice Senyo Dzamefe on Monday, June 16, 2025, he questioned why the matter was being raised during the vetting session.

“First and foremost, I think this is not the proper platform to be questioning the processes involving Justice Torkornoo. I think it is inappropriate,” he said.

He emphasised that the 1992 Constitution clearly outlines the procedures for addressing such matters.

“Let me just indicate that there is nothing procedurally questionable about the processes Justice Torkornoo is being taken through. The Constitution is clear on what the process is, and that process has been followed diligently. Efforts to challenge it at the Supreme Court have not been successful. Therefore, I find it inappropriate that, before a committee of this nature, the Minority Leader would be questioning the process, especially in relation to the accusations,” he stated.

Following the determination of a prima facie case in the three petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office, President John Dramani Mahama has suspended her and established a five-member committee to inquire into the petitions.

In the interim, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, a Justice of the Supreme Court, has assumed the role of acting Chief Justice.

His appointment as acting Chief Justice is in line with Article 144(6) of the 1992 Constitution, which stipulates that the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court shall act as Chief Justice if the position becomes vacant or the substantive Chief Justice is unable to perform his or her duties.

JKB/MA

Meanwhile, watch the latest news in Twi on GhanaWeb TV below:

According to a report by Citinewsroom, Ibrahim Adjei, former Assistant Secretary at the Office of the Former President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has emphasized the need for accountability in governance, insisting that political loyalty should not shield individuals involved in corruption, particularly in cases affecting state resources.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on June 16, Adjei urged Ghanaians to prioritize the nation’s welfare over partisan interests, following recent revelations by the Attorney General regarding a GH¢30 million payroll fraud at the National Service Authority (NSA).

According to him, “Do not defend wrongdoing if it is against the interest of Ghana. Let the law work.”

The Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, disclosed during a press briefing on June 13 that Gifty Oware-Mensah, former Deputy Executive Director of the NSA, allegedly orchestrated the fraud.

She reportedly manipulated the National Service Personnel (NSP) allowance system, securing a GH¢30,698,218.69 loan from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) using the allowances as collateral, with an interest rate of 23%.

The investigation, led by the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) task force, continues to probe financial malfeasance at the NSA. Adjei stressed that protecting political allies involved in such acts compromises the nation’s development and governance credibility.

He remarked, “It sets a benchmark and will deter those who think that getting into politics is a license to make money.”

He further called on citizens to support the ongoing investigations objectively, avoiding any form of politicization that could undermine justice and accountability efforts.

Jones de Graft-Darkwa is a Research & Elections Officer at Ablekuma North Constituency

In recent days, Ghanaians have witnessed a troubling and unjustified attack on the independence of the Electoral Commission (EC), led by senior government officials, including the Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and the Presidential Advisor for Governmental Affairs, Dr. Valerie Esther Sawyer. These officials have publicly called for a rerun of the parliamentary election in the Ablekuma North Constituency.

Let me state emphatically that any talk of a rerun in Ablekuma North, whether for the entire constituency or select polling stations, is completely without justification or constitutional basis.

The EC is the only institution empowered by our Constitution to organize and supervise elections in Ghana. It is an independent body. The recent comments from these high-ranking officials not only undermine that independence but also risk setting a dangerous precedent in which political pressure overrides the law and due process.

The EC has consistently stated that it is ready and willing to execute its constitutional mandate by completing the collation and declaration of the 7 December 2024 parliamentary election results for Ablekuma North. The only impediment has been the lack of adequate security support from the Ghana Police Service. It is, therefore, deeply troubling for anyone, especially government officials, to be calling for a rerun when the lawful process has not been concluded simply due to an apparent failure, or refusal, to guarantee the Commission the security it needs to operate.

Ironically, any rerun (should one occur), would require even greater security arrangements. So why are these calls being made at all? The solution is clear: provide the EC with the protection it needs to do its job and respect the will of the people.

The constituents of Ablekuma North have exercised their constitutional right to vote. The ballots have been cast, and the democratic process must be allowed to conclude. It is not for politicians, regardless of their office, to decide whether an election should be rerun. That authority lies solely with the EC, and only under specific, well-grounded legal circumstances.

Rather than undermine the process with partisan pronouncements, officials like Dr. Omane Boamah and Dr. Valerie Sawyer should be using their influence to support the EC and urge the Inspector General of Police and the Ghana Police Service to ensure the Commission has the protection it needs to carry out its constitutional duties.

This moment calls for leadership, not political gamesmanship. The EC must be allowed to assert its independence, complete the collation process, and declare the results without further delay. Anything less is a betrayal of our democracy.

It is time to end the charade and put Ghana first.

Residents of Ablekuma Fanmilk are voicing frustration over an incomplete drainage system

Residents of Ablekuma Fanmilk are voicing frustration over an incomplete drainage system that has left them cut off and inconvenienced.

According to a report by citinewsroom.com dated June 16, 2025, the issue affects the 10 Plots area in Ablekuma Fanmilk, part of the Ga Central Municipal Assembly.

A drainage system constructed along a key community road is obstructing access to residents’ homes.

Residents say this problem has persisted for nearly a decade, despite numerous complaints from affected households.

Originally intended to address flooding, the project has been ongoing for several months.

However, its incomplete state has brought significant hardship to the community. Instead of improving infrastructure, it has become a major source of disruption.

The drainage system, left unfinished, continues to worsen flooding in the area. A deep, open gutter now cuts across the road, separating homes from the main access route.

They lament that the situation deteriorates further during the rainy season, when the inadequate drainage fails to manage water runoff.

Additionally, residents say they are often forced to wade through flooded streets, as vehicles, including cars and motorbikes, are unable to reach the area. Many are compelled to walk long distances or risk dangerous crossings just to access their homes.

The community is therefore urgently appealing to the authorities to complete the project.

“This area floods frequently during the rainy season, and we lose clients as a result. It’s very difficult to attract new customers under these conditions,” a resident lamented.

Parents in the community are also deeply concerned about the safety of schoolchildren.

“I want the road to be fixed. There are schools nearby, and when it rains, I often have to keep my children at home because the gutter becomes dangerous. If a child were to fall in, it could be disastrous. I stand watch during the rains just to keep them safe,” one worried resident shared.

Despite repeated appeals to local authorities, the issue remains unresolved.

“We’ve consulted the assemblyman and other officials, but they always say action will be taken. When it rains, erosion is severe, and if you’re not careful, you could be swept away,” another resident said.

Assemblyman Efritete Baffoe Kyei, who represents the Ablekuma Electoral Area, has acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.

“This has been a major challenge for us. Last year, I spoke with the Roads Engineer, Mr. Armah, who said the project had been earmarked for a contractor to build a proper drain. I followed up in March this year, and he told me that due to changes in government, we would have to be patient,” he explained.

He stressed the urgent need for proper drainage infrastructure and assured residents that discussions with the Municipal Engineer are ongoing.

NAD/MA

Meanwhile, watch as victims of the June 3 disaster decry 10 years of neglect by the state:

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected claims by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the contempt case involving Akwatia MP Ernest Kumi has been fully resolved as reported by ModernGhana.

According to the NDC, the case is still active despite the recent Supreme Court ruling.

The Supreme Court overturned an earlier contempt conviction issued by High Court Judge Justice Emmanuel Senyo Amedahe and ordered his recusal. However, the NDC maintains that the charges remain.

Eastern Regional Secretary of the NDC, Jamal Konneh, criticized the NPP for misleading the public, stating that the Supreme Court ruling only addressed procedural issues, not the substance of the case.

Konneh explained that while the NPP sought multiple reliefs at the Supreme Court, including a request to dismiss the election petition for being filed without a gazette, the court unanimously dismissed that argument.

“The NPP filed about five reliefs at the Supreme Court. The first one was that the court should set aside the petition, arguing that the petitioners filed it without a gazette.

That was dismissed by a unanimous 5-0 decision of the court,” Konneh said.

He further emphasized that the ruling focused on judicial bias, not the contempt charge itself. “What was upheld was the fact that the judge sitting on the case should recuse himself. But the contempt case still holds,” he added.

The Supreme Court directed that a new judge be assigned to continue the contempt proceedings.

Despite the NPP’s public celebrations, Konneh stressed that both the contempt case and the broader election petition remain pending.