News
No one can force CJ to resign, she’ll assert her rights – Godfred Dame
Former Attorney General Godfred Dame has insisted that the processes regarding the ongoing removal proceedings against suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo are flawed.
Mr. Dame, who also serves as the Chief Justice’s lawyer, argues that due process and constitutional principles have been disregarded.
He said this outside the court premises in Accra after his client suffered yet another defeat in her attempt to halt the proceedings by the five-member committee set up to probe the three petitions seeking her removal.
On Wednesday, May 28, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed her injunction application against the committee.
This ruling was delivered a few hours after her supplementary affidavit was also struck out unanimously by the Court.
Some critics have also suggested that the Chief Justice resign of her own accord to spare herself further trouble.
However, her lawyer is of an entirely different view.
Speaking to journalists, Godfred Dame explained that resignation is not on the table because “due process, rule of law, constitutionalism, must prevail in Ghana.”
“That is what we seek. It is not on the account of people putting pressure on CJ to resign or do whatever that we will take any decision. The most important thing is that there must be an upholding of the rule of law in Ghana. And we continue to assert our rights. The proper thing must be done. As far as I’m concerned, the correct thing must be done… She knows what is due process. She knows what is constitutional rights, and I think that’s what she’s asking for,” he added.
Background
Gertrude Torkornoo, on May 21, filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking to restrain a committee set up by President John Mahama to investigate petitions seeking her removal from office.
In the suit, she requested an interlocutory injunction to halt all proceedings of the committee, pending the final determination of the case.
According to Court documents, the Chief Justice wanted the Supreme Court to issue an order restraining the six-member committee, composed of Justices Gabriel Scott Pwamang and Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, as well as Daniel Yao Domelevo, Major Flora Bazuwaaruah Dalugo, and Professor James Sefah Dziasah, from proceeding with any inquiry related to the petitions brought against her.
The application also sought to bar Justices Pwamang and Adibu-Asiedu from presiding or participating in any deliberations of the committee.
Further, the Chief Justice was also asking the court to suspend the operation of the warrant for her suspension issued by the President under Article 146(10) of the Constitution until a final determination is made on the matter.
Other legal actions taken by some individuals and a group at the Supreme Court against the processes so far by the Committee have been dismissed.
Source: myjoyonline.com
The family of Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a distinguished statesman and diplomat, has paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama. They officially informed him of his passing.
The delegation, representing the Gbeho family, noted that it was culturally and diplomatically important to formally notify the President of the loss before making a public announcement of his death.
Ambassador Gbeho was a towering figure in Ghanaian and international politics. He served in many diplomatic missions, including New York. He was Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, a Member of Parliament for the Anlo constituency, and President (formerly Executive Secretary) of the ECOWAS Commission.
He was widely respected for his role in regional integration and his contributions to global diplomacy at the United Nations.
President Mahama expressed his condolences and shared reflections on Ambassador Gbeho’s contributions to the country, West Africa and the world.
Funeral details will be announced later.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has revoked all firearm permits in Ghana with immediate effect and announced a new registration process for all gun owners.
The minister made the announcement on Tuesday, June 23, at the information service department saying all individuals who currently hold licences to own firearms or sidearms must undergo a fresh registration process.
“From this afternoon, all permits that have been granted to any individual that you are holding a sidearm or firearm is hereby revoked,” Mr Muntaka said.
He explained that the government had identified gaps in the country’s firearm registration system and needed to introduce stricter measures to improve public safety.
“We are opening the window where everyone will have to come forward again to register or re-register the gun because we’ve changed the procedure,” he stated.
According to him, the government decided not to wait until the end of the year to make the changes because lives could still be saved within the next six months.
The Interior Minister said one of the new requirements would be mandatory mental health screening for applicants seeking firearm licences.
“We’ve seen that people with mental health have already gone through and have the sidearm. Now we are introducing mental health. Before we give you the sidearm, we have to be sure that you have the mental stability to hold the firearms,” he said.
Mr Muntaka also announced that applicants would be required to undergo drug tests before being granted licences.
“We’ve also realised that people who are on drugs are also holding their arms and they are legitimate because it’s been registered. Now you have to go through drug tests to be sure that you are not on drugs before you can hold sidearms,” he added.
The minister said the new measures form part of efforts by the government to tighten firearm control and prevent legally registered weapons from falling into the wrong hands.
He urged all firearm owners to cooperate with the new registration process once details of the exercise are announced.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News1 week agoNFS, AACMA raise GH¢300K for new fire tender
- News4 days ago
FSD Africa, others launch Green Project Preparation Facility to unlock investment in climate infrastructure in Ghana
- News1 week ago
CSA urges Universities to strengthen cybersecurity following university of Nottingham cyber-attack
