Source: Mavis Lamise Amaaba
Professor Stephen Adei, a former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, has expressed strong concerns about the potential removal of the Chief Justice by President-elect John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking on the Hot Issues on TV3 on Sunday, December 22, Prof Adei, also an economist believes that such an action would set a dangerous precedent, undermining Ghana’s judiciary and democratic stability
It would be disastrous if Mr. Mahama removes the Chief Justice,” he remarked. “Such a move would consolidate a very bad practice that will not augur well for the future of this country. We must resist the temptation to politicise every aspect of governance, especially our judiciary.”
According to Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, a Chief Justice can only be removed from office for stated misbehavior, incompetence, or inability to perform their duties due to infirmity of body or mind. The process involves a petition to the President, who then appoints a committee to investigate the complaint.
He further placed importance of safeguarding the judiciary’s independence against political interference. He argued that the judiciary is a critical pillar of democracy, and tampering with its leadership for political reasons could erode public trust.
“The Chief Justice must not work well for Akufo-Addo or Mahama. The CJ must be seen to uphold the law. It is only in the absence of that, she can be removed,” he stated.
The current Chief Justice of Ghana is Gertrude Torkornoo, who succeeded Kwasi Anin-Yeboah in June 2023. The Chief Justice plays a crucial role in Ghana’s judiciary, overseeing the administration of justice and ensuring the integrity of the judicial system.
He therefore called on stakeholders to ensure that judicial appointments and removals are guided by constitutional provisions and the principles of justice.
