The Judicial Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) has clarified that its decision to remain silent regarding the processes that led to the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo was a strategic choice made by its leadership.
Abdulai Yakubu, the General Secretary of JUSAG, explained that the Association did not consider itself the appropriate body to comment on the matter.
He elaborated that the leadership had decided to reserve any public commentary until the most appropriate time, specifically in the event that the removal was determined to be a result of “political machinations.”
Mr. Yakubu opined that the Association primarily positioned to comment on such an issue was the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana (AMJG), which also refrained from issuing a statement.
He underscored that JUSAG is an association representing the interests of judicial staff who are neither judges nor magistrates.
Speaking in an interview on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he asserted, “It was not in our place to have made any remarks about it.”
He also described as “inaccurate” claims suggesting that JUSAG members were excited or pleased about Justice Torkornoo’s removal.
”Remember, we are not one person. We have our National Executive Board, the National Executive Council, and the Conference. It is the Council that takes decisions when matters like this come up. When this matter arose, the Council monitored the ongoing events and decided, for one or two reasons, to monitor the process. We resolved that we would intervene if and when necessary… The Chief Justice is part of the judges and the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana. She is part of the [AMJG] Association.”
”The [AMJG] Association did not issue any statement, and I think you should also be questioning that. JUSAG is for the staff. Of course, we serve the Judiciary, and anything that happens there bothers on us. But we analyzed a number of factors and resolved that we must monitor the events. If we were to find that an individual was innocent of the charges brought against him or her, but there were political machinations to overturn the verdict of the Committee, at that point, we would be seeing clear injustice, and we could step in and protest. But if the process was in accordance with the law, there is nothing we could have done about it,” Mr. Yakubu stated.
When asked to highlight the former Chief Justice’s positive contributions, he noted her commitment to championing JUSAG’s welfare. Specifically, he credited her for initiating the implementation of a paralegal studies training programme for JUSAG members through the Judicial Service Training Institute.
He clarified that while the training was planned, it was successfully implemented under her leadership.
However, he reiterated his decline to comment on the removal process itself, confirming that the National Executive Council had taken a formal decision not to issue a statement on the matter.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
