The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has criticised the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) for proposing the reinstatement of suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Esaaba Torkornoo.
The party believes the resolution reached by the GBA was a threat to Ghana’s democracy and should be ignored.
This was in response to the resolution reached by the GBA at its annual conference held over the weekend.
The GBA passed a resolution at its mid-year conference at the Labadi Beach Hotel urging the president to lift the suspension of the Chief Justice, her ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
Members of the Bar expressed their displeasure with the substance and tone of the Ghana Bar Association’s statement dated April 24, 2025.
The lawyers criticised the Chief Justice’s suspension based on the petitions and the determination of a prima facie case, and they advocated for a constitutional instrument to guide the processes for removing judges.
But responding to the PPP, they took a swipe at them, stating that as an association of lawyers, the GBA should have commended the president for his strict adherence to the laid procedures and the law.
“We find it pertinent to express our concern regarding the stance taken by the Ghana Bar Association (GBA). As an association of learned lawyers, we had hoped the GBA would affirm the adherence to due process in this matter. Instead, their call for a “suspension of the CJ’s suspension” is perplexing and could be interpreted as an attempt to suspend due process itself, potentially setting aside portions of our Constitution.
Such calls from the GBA and other entities are not only a threat to our democratic principles but also suggest a selective and subjective application of the law, contingent on the individuals involved. While we respect the democratic right of individuals and groups to defend the Chief Justice and advocate for her reinstatement, we must also underscore the fundamental principle of accountability within a democracy.”
The statement by the party continued “The principle of strict separation of powers, crucial for preventing interference between the arms of government, must not preclude the opportunity for citizens to hold the heads of these institutions accountable. It is in this spirit that the Constitution provides clear avenues for holding not just the Chief Justice, but also the President and the Speaker of Parliament, accountable.
For clarity, our Constitution lays out explicit procedures for the removal of the President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, and other public officeholders. In the specific case of the Chief Justice, Article 146 clearly outlines the procedure to be followed, and it is our assessment that these provisions have been fully respected by the President in the current situation.
The privileges, conditions of service, powers, and the honor bestowed upon the heads of the three arms of state necessitate that they are held to the highest standards of accountability,” it added.
By: Rainbowradioonline./Ghana