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Parliament approves Gertrude Torkornoo’s nomination as Chief Justice
Parliament has finally approved the nomination of Gertrude Araba Essaba Torkornoo as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
This came after intense deliberation in the House on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Members from both sides took turns to debate the matter before reaching the final decision.
The Minority had already expressed their support for Justice Torkornoo at a press conference held on Tuesday.
However, the NDC representatives still raised some concerns that they hoped she would address as part of her mandate.
They particularly emphasised the party’s position on the details of the ruling that ousted James Gyakye Quayson as the Assin North MP, on which panel Justice Torkornoo sat.
Tamale South legislator, Haruna Iddrisu, urged the Chief Justice-nominee to act fairly in the administration of justice.
He emphasized the importance of discharging her duties without fear, favor, or political influence while upholding her judicial oath.
Mr. Iddrisu also stated that Justice Araba Essaba Torkornoo’s elevation to Chief Justice was a natural progression, considering her previous positions from the High Court to the Court of Appeal.
“It is only natural that if she is chosen and recognized by the President, she will have our support. Let us all support and wish her well,” he added.
The Appointments Committee unanimously recommended her acceptance.
Chairman of the Constitutional Legal & Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, assured that the legal luminary would adhere to the principles of her mandate, as reaffirmed in the Appointment Committee’s report.
Portions of the report read; “the nominee showed character, competence and dexterity in the knowledge of the law. She pledged to interpret the law without fear or favor if approved as Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana.”
He however contested Mr Iddrisu’s concerns in the outcome of the Gyakye Quayson ruling by the Supreme Court.
Other MPs such as Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare of Techiman North and Ursula Owusu-Ekuful of Ablekuma West.
Along the line, Minority Chief Whip Governs Kwame Agbodza called on Justice Gertrude Torkonoo to leave what he described as a better legacy than her predecessor Kwesi Anin-Yeboah in terms of justice delivery.
The Adaklu MP accused Anin Yeboah of presiding over a Supreme Court which made some bad judgments citing the Court’s decisions in the birth certificate case and the recent Gyakye Quayson case.
But Bekwau MP and First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu eulogised the outgoing Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah.“In the last 35 years, he is the only Chief
Justice that the Bar Association has formally honoured. That is a good record and that should be respected,” he added.
Credit:Myjoyonline.com
Subsequently, the House, led by Speaker Alban Bagbin adopted the report.
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
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Energy Minister announces full restoration of power generation units after major grid disruption
Energy Minister, John Jinapor has announced that all power generation units affected by the recent national grid disruption have been fully restored and are back in service.
According to the Minister on social media, engineers, technicians and emergency response teams worked continuously to restore electricity supply and stabilise the national grid after the incident caused major challenges within the power sector.
In a statement, the Minister praised the efforts of personnel from the Ghana Grid Company Limited, Volta River Authority and Electricity Company of Ghana for their commitment and coordination during the emergency.
“Mission accomplished. All generation units are now back in service,” the Minister stated.
He explained that despite the scale of the disruption, technical teams worked around the clock to restore power and secure stability within the system.
“Through their tireless work, discipline, and commitment to country, power has been restored and system stability secured,” he said.
The Minister further expressed appreciation to the leadership and staff of GRIDCo, VRA, ECG and other supporting agencies for their collective response to the crisis.
According to him, the successful restoration of the system demonstrates the resilience and capability of Ghanaian professionals in times of national difficulty.
“This moment shows that even under pressure, Ghana can rely on the strength and skill of its people,” he added.
The Minister offered prayers for the country’s energy sector and the engineers who led the restoration efforts.
“May God bless our engineers, our energy sector, and our nation,” he stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
