KEY POINTS
- Chief Justice Torkornoo requests copies of petitions against her.
- President Mahama consults the Council of State on the issue.
- Vincent Assafuah challenges petition process in Supreme Court.
Copies of the petitions filed with President John Dramani Mahama to remove her from office have been sought by Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo. On Thursday, March 27, Torkornoo wrote to the president requesting access to the materials so she could reply properly.
Chief Justice Torkornoo requests access to removal petitions.
Her plea comes after three petitions calling for her removal were filed, prompting President Mahama to start consulting with the council of State.
The request also coincides with a Supreme Court case brought by Vincent Assafuah, the New Patriotic Party’s Old Tafo MP. Assafuah is contesting the process by which the petitions were processed. Former Attorney General Godfred Dame, his attorney, contends that the chief justice ought to be notified of the petitions and given the opportunity to reply prior to the president consulting the Council of State.
According to the 1992 Constitution’s Article 146, the three petitions have been forwarded to the Council of State, as acknowledged by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of Government Communications.
The process is the first stage of a constitutional procedure that might result in major changes to Ghana’s courts, even if the precise justifications for the petitions have not been made public.
Vincent Assafuah files lawsuit over petition handling process.
According to Joynews, It is anticipated that the Council of State will examine the petitions and provide the president with guidance on the next course of action. Before any further action is taken, Chief Justice Torkornoo asked in her letter to be given a fair opportunity to address the accusations.
“With this letter, I respectfully and humbly request that His Excellency the President and distinguished members of the Council of State forward the petitions against me to me. I will then have at least seven days to respond to you, which may then be included in the materials you use to conduct the consultations required under 146 (6), prior to the potential formation of a Committee of Inquiry under Article 146 (7),” she wrote.
