The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an objection by Godfred Yeboah Dame the former Attorney General against the participation of acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie in presiding over Chief Justice Torkornoo’s suspension case.
According to Godfred Dame, acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie stands to gain from the proceedings and should therefore recuse himself.
Dame further objected to the rearrangement of the original panel, which included Justices Samuel Asiedu, Ernest Gaewu, Richard Agyei Frimpong, and Yaw Asare Darko, and was presided over by Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu.
The current panel, includes Justices Yonny Kulendi, Amadu Tanko, Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, and Ernest Gaewu, and is presided over by acting Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie.
Godfred Dame cited Article 157(3) of the Constitution arguing that the original panel, having commenced hearing the injunction motion, could not be changed until the matter was concluded.
He further noted that acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie presiding over the suspension case could undermine the public trust in judicial independence.
The Supreme Court after a brief recess reconvened and unanimously overruled the objection.
The Supreme Court justices established that Godfred Dame’s concerns did not disqualify Justice Baffoe-Bonnie from presiding over the proceedings.
They however asserted that due judicial process would be upheld throughout the case.
Meanwhile, Godfred Yeboah Dame has told the court the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo, is a charade orchestrated to oust her from office.
He is quoted to have said, “All these processes to suspend the Chief Justice are nothing but a charade to remove the CJ from office”.
