President Akufo-Addo has been petitioned by a citizen to remove the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, claiming that she is incompetent.
The petitioner, Mensah Thompson, who is also the Executive Director of the Alliance For Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), said in his petition that the conduct of the Chief Justice upon her assumption of office “shows her incompetence in managing the highest office of the judiciary.”
“The conduct of the sitting Chief Justice…clearly shows her incompetence in managing the highest office of the judiciary which has a constitutional mandate to be fair, just and equitable in the application of the laws of Ghana”.
He also wants the Attorney General, Gloria Akufo and her deputy, Godfred Dame also removed from office.
He indicated that the African Court for Human and People’s Rights (AfCHPR) last year issued a provisional measure to have all proceedings on the Woyome Vs. Republic of Ghana case halted, but “last year when the interim measure was issued on the state, there were several pronouncements by the deputy Attorney General Godfred Dame indicating that Ghana was not bound by the measure,” Mr. Thompson said in his petition.
“It was a bit worrying to see the Deputy Attorney General espouse a position that was clearly in contravention with Article 40 under which the treaty derives its powers locally…More worrying was the Supreme Court also came out with a position that it does not share its powers with any other body,” he added.
He said it was surprising that the Chief Justice, a former Vice President and later President of AfCHPR had given various rulings during her tenure which various countries duly complied, but she has taken the position that her office is not bound by rulings of the AfCHPR.
“More worrying was that Supreme Court also came out with a position that it does not share its powers with any other body.”
Mensah Thompson said he found it necessary to trigger the impeachment process in defense of the provisions of the constitution to prevent a precedent that will forever impair Ghana’s respect for international law and treaty obligations.
Article 146 (6) of the 1992 Constitution states that if the President is petitioned for the removal of the Chief Justice, he shall in consultation with the Council of State appoint a committee consisting of two justices of the Supreme Court to look into the merits of the petition and determine whether or not there is a case.
According to the constitution, “the committee appointed under clause (6) of this article shall inquire into the petition and recommend to the President whether the Chief Justice ought to be removed from office.”
The Presidency is yet to respond to the petitioner officially.
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By: citinewsroom.com | Ghana