Director of Operations for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Divine Nkrumah has taken a swipe at those who have mounted a defence for the suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
He opined that the most important thing or question to ask is whether President Mahama has breached any law while following the constitutionally required process for the removal of the Chief Justice.
Mr Nkrumah indicated that from what has transpired so far, the president has not breached any constitutional provision and if there are those who think otherwise, they should head to court.
He stated that, while the petitions were not supposed to have leaked, the allegations of misconduct, particularly those involving her immediate family’s travels, were unfortunate.
That alone, he stated, was an example of misconduct and an act that raises fundamental questions about breaches.
” Some of the breaches alleged in the petitions were similar or identical to those used by her in dismissing a court registrar at Half Asini following an Auditor General’s report. So, I’m not sure what kind of brain those defending her have, because the same Chief Justice frustrated some political parties who sued the EC over the limited registration process. When she told us she was not in Ghana, she did not take the matter seriously, and by the time she arrived in Ghana and decided to deal with it, the registration process had already ended.
She also exercised her discretion by issuing a judgement at 2:00 p.m. on a case filed around 12:00 noon the same day. Ghana’s constitution clearly states that anyone with discretionary powers should not exercise those powers arbitrarily. But she used her powers capriciously,” he said.
He added that those who wish to demonstrate may do so; it is their right, but I will not hold a brief for the Chief Justice.
’‘If the president breaches any law in the process to remove the Chief Justice, I will criticise him, but from what has occurred so far, I don’t think he has breached any law.’’
Divine Nkrumah stated that President Mahama was fair to the Chief Justice by granting her request for copies of the petitions so that she could respond.
”President Mahama was generous in granting her ten days to file her response when she needed seven days. It never happened to even Charlotte Osei,” he added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
