The Supreme Court has dismissed Dame’s objection against Baffoe-Bonnie presiding over Torkornoo case
The Supreme Court has dismissed an objection raised by former Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, against Acting Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, presiding over a high-profile constitutional case.
The objection was part of a legal challenge surrounding the suspension of Chief Justice, Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, by President John Dramani Mahama.
The Acting Chief Justice, Baffoe-Bonnie, is presiding over the court case of suspended CJ Torkornoo.
Lawyer for the Plaintiff, Godfred Dame, raised an objection to the Acting CJ presiding on the grounds that he is directly affected by the outcome of the case and, therefore, cannot preside.
However, Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem Sai, argued that there is a misconception of personal benefit to the Acting CJ but that is not so.
The panel has consequently recused itself to deliberate and give its ruling.
The case filed by Vincent Assafuah as a concerned citizen, questions the legality of President Mahama’s decision to suspend Chief Justice Torkornoo without first notifying her and obtaining her input before consulting the Council of State.
The MP seeks a declaration that the president’s actions were procedurally flawed and inconsistent with constitutional safeguards designed to protect the independence of the judiciary.
President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to suspend Justice Torkornoo was based on his determination that three separate petitions for her removal established a prima facie case, justifying further investigation.
As per the constitutional line of succession within the judiciary, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the most senior member of the Supreme Court, has assumed the role of Acting Chief Justice upon her suspension.
JKB/AE
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