The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has vehemently condemned the committee that suggested the dismissal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, characterizing the procedure as a “travesty of justice.”
He stated that the decision to dismiss Justice Torkornoo was executed in a way that violated constitutional protocols and compromised the ideals of transparency and fairness.
“It is our [minority] position that the dismissal of Torkornoo did not follow any constitutional guidelines. No Ghanaian should endure such an outcome. The dismissal of Torkornoo was shrouded in unacceptably unclear circumstances,” Afenyo-Markin remarked.
The Minority Leader emphasized that the process was devoid of due process and accountability, asserting that such actions pose a perilous precedent for the nation’s democratic and judicial integrity.
Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who took office as Chief Justice in June 2023, became the first head of the judiciary to be dismissed from her position under Ghana’s Fourth Republic. Her removal came after a petition to President John Dramani Mahama and a subsequent recommendation by a special committee formed under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.
This decision has ignited significant public discourse, with various segments of the legal community and civil society questioning the fairness of the proceedings.
Afenyo-Markin’s remarks contribute to the increasing calls for an examination of the circumstances surrounding Justice Torkornoo’s dismissal, as the Appointments Committee of Parliament evaluates Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as her successor.
