Former Director of the Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansa-Asare, has sharply criticised suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo for making public statements about her ongoing impeachment proceedings. He argues that such sensitive constitutional matters should not be subjected to public sentiment or media debates.
Justice Torkornoo, who was suspended following a petition seeking her removal from office, recently broke her silence by expressing concern over what she described as breaches of Article 146 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution — the legal provision guiding the removal of justices.
This was her first public statement since the impeachment petition surfaced.
🔍 Ansa-Asare: Public Commentary Undermines Due Process
Speaking on Citi FM on Tuesday, June 25, Mr. Ansa-Asare described her remarks as “misguided and unnecessary.” He insisted that once a constitutionally mandated procedure had been triggered, it must be allowed to proceed without external influence.
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“Ghanaians wanted to support her by watching the process unfold, but instead of seeing it through, she’s now calling it skewed while refusing to resign,” he said. “It seems she’s turned to the public to gain sympathy.”
Ansa-Asare warned that bringing the “court of public opinion” into a legal process of this magnitude could compromise the integrity of Ghana’s judiciary and democratic systems.
⚖️ The Article 146 Removal Process
According to Article 146, the President is required to act on a petition for the removal of a judge by referring it to a committee. The process is confidential and must be handled without external interference, including from media outlets or public forums.
Despite this, Justice Torkornoo’s public remarks have reignited national debate, with some civil society groups defending her transparency, while legal purists argue it risks compromising institutional neutrality.
Ansa-Asare firmly disagreed with any justification for going public:
“See what the president is doing to me, and if I appear before the committee, you will see what they are doing — It is none of our business to bring the public into this controversy,” he said.
📌 Background
The suspension of Chief Justice Torkornoo has become one of the most talked-about constitutional issues in recent Ghanaian history. Critics claim it exposes flaws in the judicial oversight mechanism, while others see it as a test of the rule of law in a democratic state.
The suspended Chief Justice filed an interlocutory injunction at the Supreme Court of Ghana, which was later dismissed on grounds of procedural compliance.
source: myjoyonline
