Sammy Gyamfi, the Communications Officer of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Chief Executive Officer of GoldBoard has revealed his sources have informed him that 30 out of the 31 Council of State members support prima facie case against the suspended Chief Justice Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
According to Sammy Gyamfi, nobody can tell him that all the 30 members of the Council of State are NDC members who hate the Chief Justice.
Speaking on JOY FM, Sammy Gyamfi stated, “From my sources, 30 out of the 31 said that there is a prima facie case to be determined and that the nature of the allegations made against the Chief Justice justify her suspension pending the outcome of the investigation”.
“Nobody can tell me that all the 30 members of the Council of State are NDC members who hate the Chief Justice”, he added.
However, the suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo has urged President John Dramani Mahama and the Council of State members to dismiss allegations against her as they do not warrant further consideration.
According to her, the decision to allow the Judicial Service to cover the expenses of her spouse and daughter was an exercise of her authorisation granted by the Policy on Foreign Travels by the Head of the Judiciary and Superior Court Judges.
She asserted that it would be absurd to claim that she has misappropriated funds when Judicial Service policy implementers are responsible for the purchase of flight tickets and payment of per diems for her official vacations.
It has been alleged that Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkonoo spent nearly GH₵260,000 on business class air tickets and approximately $30,000 in per diem allowances for her family during the trip.
Meanwhile, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo has filed a motion at the Supreme Court to halt the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
The member of parliament is seeking the Supreme Court to halt the suspension of the Chief Justice over claims President Mahama had violated due process.
The MPs writ filed today, April 24, the MP is seeking the following reliefs:
“An order restraining any step or action from being purportedly taken as part of the processes for the removal of the Chief Justice under article 146 or in any manner until the hearing and final determination of the instant action.
An order suspending the operation of the warrant for suspension of the Chief Justice purportedly issued by the President under article 146 or in any manner until the hearing and final determination of the instant action.
Any further order (s) as to this Honourable Court may seem fit”.
