There’s nothing wrong with Chief Justice requesting copies of petition for her removal – Prof. Antwi

Governance Expert and Policy Analyst, Professor Enoch Opoku Antwi has backed the Chief Justice’s request for copies of three petitions seeking her removal from office.

Her Ladyship Chief Justice Getrude Torkonoo on Thursday, March 27 officially wrote to the President and members of the Council of State requesting for copies of the petition and permission to be granted seven days to review and respond to the petition.

Speaking in an interview on TV3’s New Day, Friday, March 28, 2025 Prof. Antwi explained that the Chief Justice’s request is to only allow her know the details of the petition to be able to respond accordingly.

“I am not bothered by the Chief Justice saying that she wants a copy of the petition. Maybe, she wants to see it because in the process, what it says here in the constitution is that she will have to respond so she wants to know how it is drafted so she can respond. I don’t see anything wrong with that,” he noted.

The Chief Justice’s response comes two days after President Mahama forwarded three petitions calling for the removal of the Chief Justice to the Council of State on March 25, 2025 for further action.

The Chief Justice in responding to the issue said two days after the action taken by the President, she has not seen or been given copies of the petition which has been sent to the Council of State and expected to form the premise for her removal from office.

She averred that under the principles of audi alteram partem rule of natural justice, “no defendant can be subjected to a trial unless the preliminary process of receiving their response has been adhered to.”

Meanwhile, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, has filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court of Ghana seeking to stop President John Dramani Mahama from initiating the removal process of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.

The MP argues that the President’s actions violate constitutional provisions and threaten judicial independence.

Assafuah, in his suit against the Attorney General, contends that under a correct interpretation of Articles 146(1), (2), (4), (6), and (7), along with Articles 23, 57(3), and 296 of the 1992 Constitution, the President is required to notify the Chief Justice about any petition for her removal and obtain her comments before consulting the Council of State.

Source: 3news.com