A Ghanaian citizen, Alfred Ababio Kumi, has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama, calling on him to, with immediate effect, dissolve the five-member committee constituted to investigate petitions for the removal of suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
He is alleging that there are serious breaches of judicial misconduct by members of the committee.
He opined that this undermines the integrity and credibility of the ongoing inquiry.
He referenced what he described as a compromising meeting between two committee members—Justices Gabriel Pwamang and Samuel Adibu-Asiedu—and Thaddeus Sory, counsel for one of the petitioners in the matter.
He claimed that the said meeting occurred on the evening of May 15 at Santoku Restaurant in Accra’s Airport Residential Area and was also attended by Supreme Court Justice Yonni Kulendi.
According to the petitioner, the participants at the meeting were heard discussing matters relating to the petition.
In the petitioner’s view, the meeting and matters discussed constitute a serious conflict of interest and a breach of judicial ethics.
“The meeting between Justices Pwamang, Kulendi and Asiedu with Thaddeus Sory clearly has destroyed the integrity of the process and reduces public confidence in the process so far,” the petition reads.
Mr Kumi further alleges that Justice Pwamang has previously ruled in favour of the same petitioner represented by Mr Sory, while Chief Justice Torkornoo had taken opposing positions in related matters.
He stated that Justices Kulendi, Pwamang, and Adibu-Asiedu are all believed to have had prior interest in the Chief Justice position and were reportedly disappointed after President Akufo-Addo’s appointment of Justice Torkornoo.
“Justice Pwamang is known to be interested in becoming the Chief Justice following your election as President… Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu is also on record to have actively lobbied to be the Chief Justice after the exit of Justice Anin Yeboah,” Kumi stated.
The petitioner described the judges’ conduct as “deplorable” and “most unbecoming”.
He has therefore appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to act swiftly to safeguard the credibility of the constitutional process and to preserve public trust in the administration of justice.
The Office of the President has not yet officially responded to the petition.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
