Kwaku Ansa-Asare, the former director of the Ghana School of Law, has referred to the legal action taken by suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo to stop proceedings addressing her possible removal from office as illegal.
Following three distinct petitions for her removal, Justice Torkornoo was suspended by President John Dramani Mahama under Article 146 of the Constitution. She has now applied to the Supreme Court.
The move aims to prevent Justices Gabriel Scott Pwamang and Samuel Asiedu from taking part in the investigation into the petitions because they allegedly had private meetings with a lawyer interested in the case.
She is also asking for an interlocutory order against the presidential committee that was set up to look into the petitions.
Godfred Yeboah Dame, the former Attorney General, filed the application on her behalf.
Mr Ansa-Asare denounced the action, cautioning that it jeopardizes the constitutional framework of Ghana.
On Wednesday, May 21, he told Joy News, “This is a very serious and unfolding story that the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, would seek to stop the constitutional process. Any application to stop the process would itself be unconstitutional.”
He emphasized that the process should not be stopped, stressing that President Mahama has acted in accordance with the Constitution.
“The President has not violated any of the chronological stages in the process. Therefore, it will be a very difficult task for anyone to halt it.
“What the lawyers are doing at the moment — and what the Chief Justice herself has done, is to bark without being able to bite; they are merely barking,” he said.
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