The Excessive Court docket in Accra will ship a ruling on July 31 on an software filed by the suspended Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Torkonoo, difficult her impeachment processes.
The applying is within the nature of a judicial assessment looking for to quash the continued proceedings for her removing.
It’s the case of Justice Torkonoo that the method—led by the Justice Pwamang Committee—had been marred by severe procedural violations.
Among the many key violations, she cited included denial of authorized representation the place she accused the committee for allegedly refusing to recognise her authorized counsel on the primary day of the proceedings just because she was not personally current.
She mentioned that regardless of her lawyer being bodily out there, listening to dates and different preparations had been made with out his containment.
Justice Torkonoo additionally claimed that the committee did not specify which allegations a prima facie case had been established for, or the explanations behind such determinations. This, she argued, has impeded her potential to evaluate her authorized place and adequately put together a defence.
She additionally said that the committee permitted two of the petitioners—Mr Daniel Ofori and Shining Stars—to not testify, thereby denying her the opportunity to cross-examine them.
The Chief Justice additionally described being denied the presence of her husband or an in depth member of the family throughout the hearings.
Justice Torkonoo mentioned she was subjected to thorough searches of her physique and private belongings—an act she described as a violation of normal protocols and courtesies accorded to her workplace.
Justice Torkonoo expressed concern over the placement of the hearings, that are being held in a high-security zone on Fortress Drive, Osu, reasonably than a judicial facility, as has been the apply for Article 146 proceedings since 1993. She steered the selection of venue, coupled with the secretive
designed to intimidate her and forestall public scrutiny.
She additional revealed a disturbing historic hyperlink to the venue, stating:
“I must make the disclosure… that the Adu Lodge facility that I’m being tried in featured very prominently within the planning of the homicide of judges on June 30, 1981,” Justice Torkonoo narrated.
Furthermore, she famous that one of many murdered judges, Main Sam Acquah, was her uncle and guardian.
Justice Torkonoo warned that the present course of might set a harmful precedent for all workplace holders protected underneath Article 146 of the 1992 Structure—together with the Auditor-Normal, the Electoral Fee, and the Fee on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
