The Lawyers in Search of Democracy (LINSOD), an advocacy group, has asked President John Dramani Mahama to ignore the Ghana Bar Association’s resolution against the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
The group, made up of lawyers who are also members of the GBA, said the Association’s resolution was prejudicial as the processes undertaken by the President following the establishment of the prima facie against the Chief Justice had not been exhausted.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, Mr Eric Delanyo Alifo, President of LINSOD, said President Mahama had since the receipt of the petitions against the Chief Justice acted in accordance with Article 146 of the Constitution.
He accused the GBA of “slaughtering common sense” in their request of the President to make public the proceedings from which the prima facie case was established against the Chief Justice.
The LINSOD argued that the establishment of prima facie case against the Chief Justice and her subsequent suspension “are in no way a pronouncement of guilt on her” and thus dismissed the GBA’s position.
“In the present instance, the process is still ongoing and promising to proceed to its logical conclusion. Until then, the decision of proceedings cannot be made public as being demanded by the GBA,” he said.
President John Mahama suspended Chief Justice Torkornoo on Tuesday, April 22, after a prima facie case was established in relation to three separate petitions calling for her removal.
The decision was made under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution, with consultations with the Council of State.
The President subsequently set up a five-member committee to probe the allegations.
The GBA, in a resolution signed by National President Mrs. Efua Ghartey and National Secretary Kwaku Gyau Baffour, after its mid-year conference, asked President Mahama to revoke the suspension of the Chief Justice.
The GBA described the President’s suspension of the Chief Justice as unconstitutional and asked the President to release the full decision establishing a prima facie case against the Chief Justice.
The LINSOD urged the GBA to desist from being used as a “political tool” and always pursue the interest of the nation.
“The Ghana Bar Association in their resolution has not demonstrated any evidence of procedural impropriety, bias, arbitrariness, or unfairness in the suspension of the Chief Justice to warrant its call on the President to revoke the suspension.” Mr Alifo said.
