President John Mahama has received Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s preliminary response to petitions calling for her dismissal.
This occurs today, Monday, April 7, as the 10-day period allotted to her to reply to the petitions expires.
Earlier last month, the President received the petitions, which have garnered national attention and sparked constitutional and legal discussions about the proper process for dealing with such cases.
Following due process and fairness standards, Justice Torkornoo wrote to the President last week, requesting copies of the petitions and requesting a minimum of seven days to reply.
As part of the consultation procedure with the Council of State under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution, her response, which has now been formally presented to the President and the Council of State, is anticipated to be taken into consideration.
In the ongoing constitutional process, the proposal represents a critical turning point that might decide whether or not a committee is formed to look into the accusations made against the Chief Justice.
On April 9, Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah filed a lawsuit against the Supreme Court, arguing that it was unlawful for the President to start the removal process without first informing the Chief Justice.
Article 146 of the constitution contains the legislation governing the Chief Justice’s removal.
Article 146: Removal Of Justices Of Superior Courts And Chairmen Of Regional Tribunals
1) A Justice of the Superior Court or a Chairman of a Regional Tribunal shall not be removed from office except for stated misbehaviour or incompetence or on the ground of inability to perform the functions of his office arising from infirmity of Body or mind.
(2) A Justice of the Superior Court of Judicature or a Chairman of a Regional Tribunal may only be removed in accordance with the procedure specified in this article.
(3) If the President receives a petition for the removal of a Justice of a Superior Court other than the Chief Justice or for the removal of the Chairman of a Regional Tribunal, he shall refer the petition to the Chief Justice, who shall determine whether there is a prima facie case.
(4) Where the Chief Justice decides that there is a prima facie case, he shall set up a committee consisting of three Justices of the Superior Courts or Chairmen of the Regional Tribunals or both, appointed by the Judicial Council, and two other persons who are not members of the Council of State, nor members of Parliament, nor lawyers, and who shall be appointed by the Chief Justice on the advice of the Council of State.
(5) The committee appointed under clause (4) of this article shall investigate the complaint and shall make its recommendations to the Chief Justice, who shall forward them to the President.
(6) Where the petition is for the removal of the Chief Justice, the President shall, acting in consultation with the Council of State, appoint a committee consisting of two Justices of the Supreme Court, one of whom shall be appointed chairman by the President, and three other persons who are not members of the Council of State, nor members of Parliament, nor lawyers.
(7) The committee appointed under clause (6) of this article shall inquire into the petition and recommend to the President whether the Chief Justice ought to be removed from office.
(8) All proceedings under this article shall be held in camera, and the Justice or Chairman against whom the petition is made is entitled to be heard in his defence by himself or by a lawyer or other expert of his choice.
(9) The President shall, in each case, act in accordance with the recommendations of the committee.
(10) Where a petition has been referred to a committee under this article, the President may
(a) in the case of the Chief Justice, acting in accordance with the advice of the Council of State, by warrant signed by him, suspend the Chief Justice;
(b) In the case of any other Justice of a Superior Court or of a Chairman of a Regional Tribunal, acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Council, suspend that Justice or that Chairman of a Regional Tribunal.
(11) The President may, at any time, revoke a suspension under this article.
Source: newsthemegh.com