Ghana chief justice removed from office after probe

The head of Ghana John Mahama, the head of the country’s judges, Gertrude Torno, after a recommendation from the investigation.

She has It was on a comment Since April after complaints against her in petitions by three individuals.

Mahama’s office said on Monday that a committee was appointed by the president found that “the reasons for the declared misconduct … were created and recommended to remove it from his post.” Torkornoo rejected these allegations that they are unfounded and political motives.

The presidency said that Mahama is required to act according to the recommendations of the committee. But critics are afraid that he is a disturbing precedent and undermines judicial independence.

In its investigation, the committee reviewed 10,000 pages of evidence from 13 witnesses on behalf of the owner of the petition Daniel Oviuri. The head of the judges also witnessed and invited 12 other witnesses, including experts.

Other petitions have not been completed.

Torkornoo was also removed as a judge in the Supreme Court after the results of the committee.

The investigation found evidence of illegal spending of public funds associated with its own travel. According to what was reported, her wife and daughter paid suits using public funds during a special trip with her husband to Tanzania in 2023 and another for the United States with her daughter.

She also faced allegations of interference in appointments by conducting side procedures to appoint the Supreme Court judges and abuse authorities in the transfer of a judicial employee.

Mrs. Torkino, Head of the Third Judges in Ghana, was nominated in 2023 by former President Nana Akovo Ado.

She is the first seated president to be investigated and rejected.

The chief judge in Ghana is safely possessing – which means that it can only be removed from the office for a few reasons, which include inefficiency and misconduct.

However, the representatives of Mrs. Torkornoo’s legal refused to remove her.

In April, the new National Party condemned the opposition, describing it as a magical political chase and an attempt to undermine judicial independence.

There were no multiple lawsuits that defy the removal process.

She had previously survived a removal request under Akufo-Eddo, who found the petition “many shortcomings”.

It was accused of bias in some of its rulings by the current ruling party, which was then in the opposition.

The former Deputy Prosecutor, Alfred Tawah Yiphoh, criticized the decision to remove the chief of judges, saying that he was a “dangerous precedent”, according to reports of the news agency.

And he was quoted as saying: “The petition that I read did not show any appropriate reasons for justifying its removal … If the threshold is what we read in the petition, then I am afraid of the future of the judiciary.”

The government’s judicial arm is an independent institution, but the constitution allows checks to ensure the balance of power.

Critics argue that the removal of Mrs. Torkornoo can erode the independence of the judiciary and allow the executive authority to exercise an unjustified influence over the judges.

If the executive branch is seen as a lot of authority over the judiciary, it may undermine the public’s confidence in the legal system and create an uneven field of justice.

William Narko, Executive Director of the Center for Law and Accountability, called for a review of the law that rules the removal of the chief of judges.

It indicates that Ghanaian law does not specifically specify what constitutes “misconduct”, leaving an area of ​​various interpretations and possible manipulation by the executive authority.

Mr. Narko Kenya was martyred as an example, as the process begins with the Judicial Service Committee, ensuring the independence of the two institutions.

The chief judge still has the opportunity to challenge its removal in court, although it may not receive a positive result.