News
To thine own self be true- Let the law work
On the evening of Tuesday, March 25, 2025, social media reports indicated that His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, had forwarded three petitions for the removal of the Chief Justice to the Council of State. This step is a constitutional requirement under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution, which states:
1.“Where the petition is for the removal of the Chief Justice, the President shall, acting in consultation with the Council of State, appoint a committee consisting of two Justices of the Supreme Court, one of whom shall be appointed Chairman by the President, and three other persons who are not members of the Council of State, nor members of Parliament, nor lawyers.”
2.Two days later, at 9:20 AM on Thursday, March 27, 2025, the Hon. Vincent Ekow Assafuah of Old Tafo, in Kumasi filed an action at the Supreme Court challenging the President’s referral of the petitions to the Council of State.
3.Mr. Assafuah argues that the President is required, under Articles 146(1), (2), (4), (6) and (7), 23, 57(3), and 296 of the Constitution, to:
“…notify the Chief Justice about a petition for her removal and obtain her comments and responses before referring the petition to the Council of State or commencing consultation with the Council of State.”
4.This claim raises a number of intriguing questions:
i. How did Mr. Assafuah, within just one day, ascertain that the Chief Justice was not consulted before the petitions were referred to the Council of State?
ii. Did the Chief Justice personally inform him that she was not consulted?
iii. Was there any media report confirming that the Chief Justice had been bypassed in the process?
5.And Godfred Dame as his lawyer? As the musician Joseph of Culture says, “this is neither a jigsaw nor a puzzle.” Things are falling into place. We either survive together or perish together.
6. That aside, only Article 146(6) is relevant in determining whether the President was required to seek the Chief Justice’s comments before consulting the Council of State.
7.Article 146(6), in clear and unambiguous terms, states that when a petition concerns the removal of the Chief Justice, the President must act in consultation with the Council of State.
8.In Agyei Twum v. Attorney General & Akwetey, Justice Date-Bah, speaking for the Supreme Court, held that just like other Justices of the Superior Courts, a prima facie case must first be established against the Chief Justice before a committee is empaneled to investigate the petition.
9. However, the Agyei Twum case did not specify how the prima facie determination should be made. What is certain, however, is that the President must act in consultation with the Council of State. The President’s decision to refer the petitions to the Council of State is, therefore, in strict compliance with the Constitution.
10. The following questions expose the suit for what it is—Much Ado About Nothing:
i. If the Constitution explicitly states that “where the petition is for the removal of the Chief Justice, the President shall act in consultation with the Council of State”, is it unconstitutional for the President to refer the petitions to the Council of State?
ii. Isn’t the referral the first logical step in discussing the prima facie determination and the procedure for it?
iii. Should the President unilaterally decide on the petitions without engaging the Council of State, as mandated?
iv. Does referring the petitions to the Council of State amount to a prima facie determination without giving the Chief Justice a hearing?
v. Does this referral prevent the Chief Justice from later providing her comments on the petitions?
11. In the first petition, the former President’s response suggested that the Council of State had been consulted before the determination that no prima facie case had been made against the Chief Justice.
12. Yet, the President’s letter to Prof. Azar does not indicate that the Chief Justice was asked for her comments before that determination was made.
13. The Chief Justice believes in the law. There is no need for presumptive protection. Every Ghanaian believes in the law.
14. The law requires that the President act in consultation with the Council of State. That consultation is currently ongoing. Let the process unfold. The Council of State has its own esteemed legal minds—trust them as much as you have always asked us to trust you.
15. To Proxy Assafuah, let me offer a lesson from the Acts of the Apostles. In Acts 5, Peter and his fellow apostles faced intimidation aimed at silencing their mission. Yet, despite the threats, they persisted in preaching the gospel without seeking legal recourse.
16. When they were eventually arrested and brought before the High Priest, Gamaliel, a respected Pharisee, offered wise counsel:
17. He reminded his colleagues of Theudas and Judas, two men who falsely claimed divine backing but ultimately perished. Gamaliel then gave this timeless advice in Acts 5:38-39:
“…Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”
18. So be it, Hon. Mr. Proxy! leave the petitioners alone for if their counsel or work be of men, their petitions will come to nought, but if it be of God, and their cause is just, no court action can overthrow it.
By Thaddeus Sory
The Ghana Police Service has launched a manhunt for a suspect in connection with the disappearance of a 27 year old man at Oyibi.
In a press release dated April 14, 2026, the Police identified the suspect as Wisdom Tetteh and said he is being sought over the disappearance of Theophilus Ashitey Amarh.
According to the Police, the case was reported on April 7, 2026, after the victim failed to return home.
He had left the previous day with the intention of selling his Hyundai Elantra saloon car after being introduced to a prospective buyer by the suspect.
Investigations revealed that the victim was last seen at the suspect’s residence at Saasabi, where he had gone to meet the supposed buyer.
The Police noted that a follow up visit to the suspect’s residence on April 10 led to the discovery of suspected bloodstains in a room, raising concerns of possible foul play.
The scene has since been examined by the National Crime Scene Management Team with support from the Anti Armed Robbery Unit of the CID Headquarters.
The Police added that search efforts involving community members and local authorities have been carried out in the area, but the victim is yet to be found.
Further intelligence suggests that the suspect may have fled the country to neighbouring Togo.
The Police indicated that steps, including INTERPOL processes, have been initiated to track and arrest him.
The Command assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to arrest the suspect and uncover what happened.
It also urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspect or the missing person to report to the nearest police station to assist investigations.
By: Jacob Aggrey
A team member of the Kwahu Business Forum and special aide to the Chief of staff, Benjamin Essuman has revealed that the team is working on developing the forum into a major platform to support business growth and policy dialogue in Ghana.
According to him, efforts are underway to transform the Kwahu Business Village into an International Conference Hub that will attract businesses and investors from across the world.
He made the remarks during an interview with ghanaiantimes.com.gh journalist, Jacob Aggrey in Accra.
He said the forum was designed to bring together regulators, policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors to share ideas and help shape policies that support business development.
According to him, the concept began in 2024 when John Dramani Mahama and his Chief of Staff conceived the idea during the Easter period in Kwahu, where many entrepreneurs gather annually.
He said the first edition created a platform for business people to engage leadership directly and present their concerns.
According to him, the success of the maiden event led to the decision to make it an annual forum.
He said the second edition in 2025 focused on improving access to finance by bringing banks and financial institutions to interact with businesses.
He said institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank participated and engaged entrepreneurs on funding opportunities.
According to him, the forum has now gone beyond dialogue and has become a platform for partnerships, negotiations and investment deals.
He said some entrepreneurs who participated in previous editions have secured support from financial institutions, with their projects progressing steadily.
According to him, the presence of the President at the forum continues to boost confidence among businesses and deepen engagement.
He said the 2026 edition was larger than the previous ones and was held at the newly developed Kwahu Business Village.
According to him, traditional authorities in Kwahu donated about 150 acres of land to support the development of a permanent business conference centre.
He said the forum is attracting both local and international companies, creating opportunities for networking and collaboration.
According to him, the initiative also promotes tourism activities such as paragliding in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority.
He said the forum will continue to be held in Kwahu and is being positioned as Ghana’s version of the World Economic Forum.
Mr.Easuman further challenges such as overcrowding in previous editions have been addressed through the introduction of a digital registration system.
He said small scale businesses must take advantage of opportunities such as partnerships, mergers and government incentives to expand.
According to him, entrepreneurs should also collaborate with institutions like the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority to access international markets.
He said the long term vision includes developing the Kwahu Business Village into a world class facility capable of hosting global conferences, with possible plans to construct an airstrip.
According to him, the forum remains an important platform for businesses seeking growth, funding and expansion beyond Ghana.
Background
The Kwahu Business Forum was introduced in 2024 as an initiative to bring together business leaders and government officials during the Easter festivities in Kwahu.
It was conceived as a platform for dialogue but has since evolved into an annual event focused on promoting investment, networking and policy engagement to strengthen Ghana’s business environment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
