Prof Mike Oquaye slams government over handling of petitions for CJ Torkornoo's removal

Former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, has criticised the John Dramani Mahama-led authorities implicit its handling of petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

Speaking successful a snippet of an interrogation connected JoyNews’ The Pulse, scheduled to beryllium aired connected Wednesday, 8 May, 2025, Professor Oquaye stated that the ongoing process does not align with the laid-down process for the removal of a Chief Justice arsenic outlined successful Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.

He pointed retired that 1 cardinal constituent being ignored is the law request for successful camera (private) hearings of specified petitions.

He added that the existent process lacks transparency and is depriving Ghanaians of their close to beryllium informed astir the proceedings.

“A fig of the things that are happening are truthful governmental that erstwhile it comes to these matters, I similar to enactment connected the chapeau of a law student. I survey the Constitution. I americium acrophobic astir definite issues that I see vital, peculiarly the proceedings successful camera provision.

“You inquire yourself: What is the rationale for that proviso successful our Constitution? It is determination successful achromatic and white. What is its purpose? And if we were to springiness it a purposive interpretation, wherever shall we extremity up? Is the intent to payment the radical of Ghana arsenic a whole, that the Chief Justice mightiness beryllium tried successful camera?
“Because, you see, adjacent earlier you get to the successful camera provision, from the precise beginning, the Constitution tells america that justness belongs to the people. It emanates from the people. Justice belongs to each of america arsenic a people,” helium said.

He continued, “The radical are the owners of that issue, that process, immoderate happens with respect to the Chief Justice. Why should the radical beryllium barred from knowing what is going on? If the radical person the right, arsenic owners of the precise process of adjudication, past of course, they should beryllium capable to sojourn the workplace that is theirs.”

BAI/MA