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Prof. Mike Oquaye accuses gov’t of ‘secret trial’ of Chief Justice
Former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, has criticised the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over what he described as the mishandling of the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
He is unhappy with the constitutional provision requiring the hearing of the Chief Justice’s case to be held in-camera.
“I am concerned about certain issues that I consider vital, particularly the trial in-camera provision. You will ask yourself what the rationale is for that provision in our constitution, what is its purpose, and if we are to give it a purposeful interpretation, where shall we go? The purpose is it to benefit the people of Ghana as a whole, that the Chief Justice must be trial in-camera…”
He added, “From the very beginning, the constitution tells us justice belongs to the people, it emanates from the people, justice belongs to all of us people, one may say that this provision could be advarance to the one that says trial must be done in-camera.” he said in an exclusive interview with JoyNews.
Prof. Oquaye also raised concerns about the transparency and integrity of the process.
He argued that the judiciary must be insulated from political interference, adding that the current handling of the matter risks eroding confidence in the rule of law.
The Chief Justice was recently suspended following allegations of misconduct, after which a formal petition was submitted to President John Mahama, prompting the formation of a committee to investigate the matter.
The proceedings, however, have largely been conducted in-camera, drawing criticism from sections of the public and some legal minds.
While the NDC government maintains that the suspension was carried out in accordance with constitutional provisions, Prof. Quaye argues that the secrecy surrounding the process undermines the principles of accountability and due process.
Source:Myjoyonline.com
The Ghana Police Service has arrested four suspected armed robbers following an intelligence-led operation in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
The suspects, identified as Abdulai Ibrahim, Amadu Rahman, Amadu Sulemana, also known as Saaga, and Adu Yakubu, were arrested on May 5, 2026.
Investigations indicate that on 4th May 2026, the suspects converged at Gbane, a mining community in the Talensi District, after travelling from Yagaba and Fumbisi to carry out a robbery operation, during which they robbed four motorbikes and several mobile phones.
During interrogation, the suspects admitted to a series of robberies within the Talensi District, along the Yagaba Fumbisi road and the Yagaba-Nanguruma road in the North East Region.
They also confessed to a robbery at the Vikandi Phone Shop in Bolgatanga on 22nd March 2025, which was captured in a viral video in which they were seen wielding an AK47 assault rifle.
They further admitted to multiple robberies at Gbane mining sites, where gold and large sums of money were taken from victims.
The suspects later led Police to a farm near Biung, close to Gbane, where the gang leader, Amadu Rahman, had concealed an AK47 rifle.
A search of the area led to the retrieval of the rifle, with serial number 68100563, and eighty-seven (87) rounds of live ammunition hidden in a fertilizer sack.
During the search to retrieve the weapon, suspect Amadu Rahman collapsed and was rushed to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
His body has been deposited at the hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy.
The remaining three suspects are in Police custody and will be put before court to face the full rigours of the law.
Fourteen civil society organisations, including CDD, IMANI and 12 other CSO’shave filed an application at the Supreme Court seeking permission to join a constitutional case challenging parts of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
The groups want to participate in the case of Adamtey v Attorney-General as amici curiae, meaning friends of the court, to provide legal and policy perspectives to assist the court in its determination.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, May 6, the organisations explained that the case raises important constitutional and public interest issues relating to Ghana’s anti corruption framework and the independence of public institutions.
The coalition includes Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Transparency International Ghana, the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), Democracy Hub LBG, STAR-Ghana Foundation, NORSAAC, Penplusbytes, the Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), Odekro Parliamentary Monitoring Organization, A Rocha Ghana, Parliamentary Network Africa (PN Africa), IMANI-Africa, the One Ghana Movement, and Africa Education Watch.
According to the statement, some of the organisations were directly involved in the drafting and parliamentary approval of Act 959 in 2017 and also campaigned for the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
It noted that it jointly submitted what it described as one of the most detailed memoranda to Parliament’s Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee during discussions on the bill.
The coalition commended the Supreme Court for increasingly allowing amicus curiae participation in cases involving major constitutional questions.
According to the statement, such participation has helped to broaden public interest perspectives and strengthen constitutional adjudication in Ghana.
The organisations stressed that their intervention is not politically motivated or directed at any individual involved in the case.
“It is motivated solely by a shared commitment to constitutionalism, accountable governance, anti corruption, institutional integrity, and the preservation of independent public institutions established to serve the Republic,” the statement noted.
The coalition expressed confidence that its participation would provide the court with institutional memory, comparative anti corruption standards and constitutional arguments to support a fair determination of the matter.
The applicants are being represented by Kizito Beyuo, Oliver Barker Vormawor, Samson Lardy Anyenini and Clement Kojo Akapame.
By: Jacob Aggrey
