Diana Asonaba Dapaah, a former Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, has asserted that the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Esaaba Torkonoo must be a cause for concern for every Ghanaian.
According to the legal expert, the determination of a prima facie case in the petitions seeking the removal of the Chief Justice shows how the standard for establishing such a threshold is being lowered.
Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews’ NewsFile on Saturday, April 26, Madam Asonaba Daapa argued that the petitions does not meet the standard for the establishment of a prima facie case.
“Every Ghanaian must be worried as to how we are denigrating or lowering the threshold for establishing a prima facie case; every Ghanaian must be worried,” she said.
The decision, announced on Tuesday, follows the President’s determination, in accordance with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, that a prima facie case has been established in respect of three petitions filed against the Chief Justice.
In line with constitutional provisions, President Mahama has also constituted a committee to inquire into the petitions.
A statement from the Presidency dated April 22 and signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, announced the development.
The committee is chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Justice of the Supreme Court, with members including Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, also a Justice of the Supreme Court; Daniel Yaw Domelevo, former Auditor-General; Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces; and Professor James Sefah Dzisah, Associate Professor at the University of Ghana.
