L-R: Justice Gabriel Pwamang, Justice Samuel Adibu-Asiedu and Daniel Yao Domelevo are members
A Ghanaian citizen, Alfred Ababio Kumi, has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to dissolve the five-member committee investigating petitions for the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, citing serious allegations of misconduct that undermine the inquiry’s integrity.
In a petition reportedly dated May 19, 2025, Kumi raised four major allegations against members of the committee, constituted under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution to probe three petitions against the Chief Justice.
The committee, announced on April 22, 2025, comprises Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang (Chairman), Justice Samuel Adibu-Asiedu, Daniel Yao Domelovo, Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo, and Professor James Sefah Dzisah.
Compromising meeting with petitioner’s counsel
First, Kumi alleged that on May 15, 2025, after the committee’s inaugural sitting, Justices Pwamang and Adibu-Asiedu, along with Supreme Court Justice Yonni Kulendi, were seen dining with Thaddeus Sory, counsel for petitioner Daniel Ofori, at Santoku Restaurant in Accra’s Airport Residential Area.
He claimed they were overheard discussing matters related to the petition.
“The meeting between Justices Pwamang, Kulendi, and Asiedu with Thaddeus Sory clearly has destroyed the integrity of the process and reduces public confidence in the process so far,” a report by asaaseradio.com quoted Kumi’s petition.
Conflict of interest due to prior judicial rulings
Also, the petitioner accused Justice Pwamang of a conflict of interest, noting that he previously ruled in favour of Daniel Ofori in Supreme Court cases, while Chief Justice Torkornoo took opposing positions in related matters, suggesting potential bias.
““Both Justices Asiedu and Pwamang are panel members set up to inquire into the petition. They have no business meeting with counsel for one of the petitioners outside working hours at an unofficial place – a restaurant, to have a discussion. This is more serious when the record shows that Justice Pwamang gave judgments in favour of the same petitioner, Daniel Ofori, represented by the same counsel, Thaddeus Sory, in the Supreme Court,” the petitioner noted.
Personal ambitions for Chief Justice position
Kumi claimed that Justices Pwamang, Adibu-Asiedu, and Kulendi have personal ambitions for the Chief Justice position, which could compromise their impartiality.
He stated, “Justice Pwamang is known to be interested in becoming the Chief Justice following your election as President… Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu is also on record to have actively lobbied to be the Chief Justice after the exit of Justice Anin Yeboah.”
Undermining public confidence
Kumi described the justices’ conduct as “deplorable” and “most unbecoming,” arguing that their actions risk rendering the investigation a “sham” and erode public trust in the judicial process.
The petitions against the Chief Justice, leading to her suspension on 22 April 2025, were submitted by Shining Stars of Ghana, Daniel Ofori, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ayamga Yakubu Akolgo on February 14 and March 17, 2025, citing allegations of misbehaviour and incompetence.
Alfred Ababio Kumi has urged President Mahama to dissolve the committee to safeguard the credibility of the constitutional process.
“In the interest of preserving the integrity of the process, I hereby petition you for an immediate dissolution of the committee, as its ability to dispense justice is clearly compromised,” the petitioner said.
GA/KA
After the heavy rains over the weekend, a lot of debris have been left across many parts of Accra. Watch some of the destructions below:
