Private legal practitioner, Anokye Frimpong has described the press conference held by suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Esaaba Torkornoo as “the gravest sin that should have been avoided.”
Mr Anokye argued that, as a legal professional, Justice Torkornoo should not have raised objections to the venue chosen for the committee hearing the petition filed against her in such a public manner.
At the press conference, Justice Torkornoo revealed that the Adu Lodge facility—selected for the hearing on the petitions seeking her removal—featured prominently in the planning of the murder of three superior court judges on June 30, 1981.
She explained that this information is available in the Special Investigative Report on what she described as a “terrible event in our national history”.
“It will be recalled that Major Sam Acquah, the military officer who was killed along with the three High Court judges, had been the Director of Human Resources at GIHOC. He was my uncle and guardian when I entered the University of Ghana in September 1980. I was also living with him at the time he was abducted and murdered. Was Adu Lodge chosen for this inquiry to make me feel insecure? I think so. And I continue to hold the view that there is no reason to hold a quasi-judicial hearing behind the high walls of Adu Lodge,” she said.
Reacting to the press conference, Mr Anokye Frimpong stated that Madam Torkornoo should be invited by the police to submit a statement, as she may have vital information that could assist in uncovering the circumstances surrounding the murder of the judges.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he noted that the killings were a dark chapter in Ghana’s history, and anyone with knowledge of the events leading to the murders must assist with ongoing efforts to uncover the truth.
He acknowledged that if the facility was indeed used in plotting the murders, it might understandably bring back painful memories for the Chief Justice. However, he criticised her for withholding such information for decades only to now make it public under such controversial circumstances.
“I would say the suspended Chief Justice acted irresponsibly by sitting on this information for years. It’s true that as a human being, she may be emotionally affected by the memories. That’s why she should have raised an objection when the venue was chosen and asked for the hearing to be moved. But she didn’t. She attended sessions there multiple times and only now holds a press conference. That’s unfortunate,” he said.
He continued, “Had it been a different justification, she would have found herself in serious trouble. She should be invited by security agencies to write a formal statement. If she knew that the location was used for a series of meetings related to the killings, then from a legal standpoint, she would be considered a bad citizen for failing to disclose that information to the appropriate authorities.”
Mr Anokye also criticised the former Chief Justice for remaining silent about her concerns throughout her years in office, during which she participated in numerous events commemorating the murdered judges without ever raising the issue.
“If we are to examine this thoroughly, she must be made the subject of a formal investigation,” he concluded.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
