KEY POINTS
- Professor Kwaku Azar petitions President Akufo-Addo, alleging Chief Justice Torkonoo violated constitutional and administrative protocols.
- Article 146 mandates a multi-step process, including presidential review, prima facie assessment, and committee investigation.
- The petition highlights judiciary accountability, occurring during the President’s final days, with no response yet from the Chief Justice.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has been formally petitioned to dismiss Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo on allegations of misconduct and incompetence.
GhanaWeb reported that the petition, filed by US-based Ghanaian Professor of Accounting and lawyer Stephen Kwaku Asare, also known as Kwaku Azar, was submitted on December 16, 2024, just a month before the President’s tenure concludes.
Constitutional method for dismissal
Kwaku Azar contends that the Chief Justice has breached constitutional provisions and administrative protocols, undermining the integrity of Ghana’s judiciary.
He has called on the President to act in accordance with the constitutional process to ensure accountability.
According to Article 146 of Ghana’s Constitution, the procedure for removing justices from the superior courts, including the Chief Justice, consists of several stages.
First, presidential review occurs when the President reviews the petition and confers with the Council of State.
Additionally, a decision will be reached regarding whether the petition demonstrates a prima facie case of misconduct.
Likewise, when a prima facie case is proven, a committee of five members is formed to examine the issue.
This committee consists of two Supreme Court justices, one of whom leads the proceedings, along with three other members who are neither Members of Parliament, members of the Council of State, nor state attorneys.
The legal basis for this procedure was detailed in the Supreme Court’s 2006 ruling in the case of Frank Agyei Twum v Attorney General.
The court highlighted the necessity of demonstrating a prima facie case prior to creating an investigative committee.
A timely petition
The petition comes at a pivotal moment, with President Akufo-Addo nearing the end of his administration.
It places a spotlight on the judiciary’s accountability mechanisms and raises questions about the Chief Justice’s performance in office.
No formal response has been issued by Chief Justice Torkonoo or her office regarding the allegations.
Meanwhile, the presidency has yet to announce its decision on initiating the constitutional review process.
This development marks a significant chapter in Ghana’s legal and political landscape, with implications for judicial governance and public confidence in the rule of law.
