News
Supreme Court dismisses another suit against CJ removal process
The Supreme Court dismissed an application by the Centre for Citizenship, Constitutional, and Electoral Systems today by a 4-1 majority decision.
The application is seeking to halt processes triggered by President John Mahama for the removal of the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
The five-member panel that heard the matter today are Justices Paul Baffoe-Bonnie (Presiding), Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu, Yonny Kulendi, Henry Anthony Kwofie and Yaw Asare Darko; Justice Yaw Asare Darko dissenting.
The application was deemed as unmeritorious and subsequently dismissed by the Supreme Court.
This is the second suit on the same matter to have been dismissed by the Supreme Court panel on the same day.
CenCES had argued that the President’s action violated constitutional provisions and sought an order to invalidate both the suspension and the ongoing proceedings by the committee of inquiry.
However, the apex court upheld the President’s decision, allowing the committee’s work to continue.
Key Reliefs Sought
Mr Atta-Quartey was seeking five major reliefs from the Supreme Court:
A declaration that under Articles 23, 146(6), and 296(b) & (c) of the Constitution, the President’s discretionary authority to determine the existence of a prima facie case for removing the Chief Justice must be regulated by a published constitutional instrument.
A declaration that the Council of State’s advisory role in such matters must also be governed by a transparent and codified process, subject to a constitutional instrument.
A declaration that the committee of inquiry’s proceedings under Article 146(6) must follow clearly defined procedures, powers, and limitations set out in a constitutional instrument.
An order nullifying all proceedings related to the removal petitions, including the President’s prima facie determination, the suspension of the Chief Justice, and the formation of the inquiry committee, on grounds that they violate Articles 296(c) and 11(7) of the Constitution.
Any other orders or reliefs the Court deems necessary to protect the institutional independence of the Judiciary.
The President’s suspension of the Chief Justice was announced in a statement issued by the Minister in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.
The action followed three separate petitions seeking her removal, with the President acting in accordance with Article 146(10) of the Constitution.
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
