The five-member committee set up by President John Mahama to investigate three petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo is scheduled to begin its hearings today, Thursday, 15th May 2025.
In a statement signed by the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felic Kwakye Ofosu, it was announced that the committee will convene three times a week. Upon completion of its work, the committee is expected to present its findings to the President.
The committee was constituted in line with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution, following consultation with the Council of State. It is chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang.
However, the move has attracted criticism from some political actors over the lack of a specified timeline for the committee’s work.
The Member of Parliament for Effia, Isaac Boamah-Nyarko, expressed concern over the early suspension of the Chief Justice prior to the committee’s first sitting.
“If you check, the last time the President suspended the Chief Justice was on April 22, 2025 — that’s close to three weeks ago,” he noted.
“My question is, if the committee would require more than three weeks to begin its sittings, why was the Chief Justice suspended so early? And now, we are being told the committee is only now beginning its work. Then, we are told it should submit a report after completion — but which committee is established without a clear timeline? When you form a committee, you give it a deadline.” he said
Story by: Salomey Barnor