Former Speaker of Parliament Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye and Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo (from left)
A former Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye, has taken a swipe at Ghanaians who are criticising the ongoing processes on petitions for the removal of the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse, on May 8, 2025, Prof Oquaye pointed out that even though he has issues with the processes outlined in the 1992 Constitution for the removal of the Chief Justice, which he has expressed in the past, those ‘crying’ now did not complain about it when they were in power.
He said that he has written extensively about the issues he has with the process for over a decade, asserting that persons who were okay with the law when they were in power should not be complaining about it now.
“Why is it that Ghanaians have watched this being their law for so long, and some people who today are criticising the system said nothing? They did not speak about this. When I was mounting the IEA Constitutional Review Series, I wrote on all these things.
“It is published in my contribution to the University of Ghana alumni lecture, which I gave at the jubilee time at the Great Hall in Legon; 10 years ago, I had written on this… Why do we allow such things to happen? And then we cry foul when it appears as if a particular best person is going to suffer. And this is what personally I don’t like,” he said.
He added, “Let us talk by the principle of it. What is good for the goose is good for the gander – everybody, that is important.”
Prof Oquaye, who was the Speaker of Ghana’s 7th Parliament, pointed out that one of the issues he has with the law on the removal of the Chief Justice was the composition of the committee which the president is supposed to set up to probe the petition(s).
“You pick any two Supreme Court judges; then you also can pick three other civilians who are not judges, not lawyers and so on, that you think can do justice or go into the matter. The five go and sit. Judgment is by majority. So, the two Supreme Court judges will say yes, and the three civilians – ordinary people – say no.
“That three must hold, right? Because it’s a majority. And then, thereafter, there is no appeal. The matter is closed… if it were you, would you like to appear before such a court? It’s ridiculous. I don’t believe anybody is there in our law. Let me just finish this,” he said.
Watch his remarks in the video below:
Chief Justice Suspension: “What did those crying foul today do when they had power? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander” — Former Speaker Mike Ocquaye questions #ThePulse pic.twitter.com/S3zE1IUeB6
— Joy 99.7 FM (@Joy997FM) May 8, 2025
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