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GBA President raises concerns over lack of clear rules in CJ removal process
President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Efua Ghartey, defended the Association’s role in protecting the independence of the judiciary, while raising serious concerns about the procedure used in the removal of a Chief Justice.
Addressing lawyers at the 2025/2026 Annual General Conference of the GBA, Mrs. Ghartey explained that the Constitution places a duty on the Association to safeguard the independence of the courts, a responsibility the Bar has always taken seriously.
She noted that Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, which deals with the removal of judges, had for the first time in the Fourth Republic been applied to a Chief Justice.
While acknowledging that the Constitution allows for such a process, she stressed that the Bar’s main concern is the absence of clear rules to guide it.
“In the absence of specific rules, the process becomes sketchy and risks being arbitrary and unfair,” she observed.
Mrs. Ghartey recalled that on April 30, 2025, the Association passed a resolution calling for the immediate enactment of comprehensive regulations to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in all proceedings under Article 146.
She expressed disappointment that no such rules had been produced since then.
Quoting the well-known principle that “justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done,” she warned that the lack of clear regulations in the removal of such a high-ranking official sets a troubling precedent.
She emphasized that justice must serve everyone equally whether rich or poor, powerful or powerless, those who dispense justice or those who receive it.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has pledged Ghana’s continued commitment to advancing women’s rights and empowerment.
She made the statement at the UN High-Level Meeting marking 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Dr. Lartey said the Beijing Declaration, adopted in 1995, was a bold vision that recognized the advancement of women and girls as key to peace, justice, and sustainable development.
She added that while much progress had been made, the journey to full equality was still not complete.
She explained that the commemoration was of special importance to Ghana as it coincided with the 50th anniversary of the country’s national machinery for women.
She also highlighted that Ghana made history in January this year when its first female vice president was sworn into office, describing it as a breakthrough that showed the country’s determination to give women’s voices space in governance.
According to the minister, Ghana has strengthened its legal and policy framework by passing the Affirmative Action Act in 2024 and adopting a new gender policy to guide actions from 2025 to 2035.
She added that protection systems had been reinforced through the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service.
She pointed to Ghana’s focus on economic empowerment through programs such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the School Feeding Program, and the Microfinance and Small Loan Centers (MASLOC).
Plans, she said, were underway to establish a Women’s Development Bank to expand financial inclusion and provide affordable credit, especially for women in underserved areas.
Dr. Lartey stressed that the Beijing Declaration was not just a promise written on paper but a call to action.
She urged the international community to recommit to removing barriers and giving women and girls equal opportunities.
She affirmed Ghana’s commitment to a future where no woman or girl is left behind.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), DCOP Lydia Donkor, has commended the Ashanti Regional Police Commander and his team for their professionalism during an operation that dismantled a notorious armed robbery syndicate.
Speaking at the Police Headquarters in Accra, DCOP Donkor said the success of the operation was due to effective teamwork and tactical execution by the regional command.
She stressed that their dedication and courage played a major role in bringing down the gang, which had been terrorizing banks and rural financial institutions across the country.
She further praised the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, for his leadership and direction, which she said has strengthened the fight against armed robbery and improved public confidence in the police.
DCOP Donkor assured the public that investigations are ongoing and pledged that the police will not relent in pursuing the remaining suspects still at large.
She called on Ghanaians to continue to support the police with information that can help in combating crime.
By: Jacob Aggrey
