Removal of Chief Justice Was Not Political, Says Staffer
The removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office was not a political move. So, at least, says Beatrice Annan, a presidential staffer. Indeed, she clarified that Torkornoo’s history with businessman Daniel Ofori predated the NDC’s return to power. Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue on Saturday, September 6, Annan noted that Ofori, the petitioner, had a long-standing legal history with Justice Torkornoo. This conflict, therefore, stemmed from earlier court battles. The staffer explained that Ofori is a frequent litigant. Meanwhile, he has had issues with Justice Torkornoo since her time as a High Court judge.
“The petitioner, Daniel Ofori, is not a new person to the removed CJ,” she stated. “He is by far one of the richest businessmen we have in Ghana and a frequent litigant.” Annan explained that Ofori had pursued a case against Ecobank through the judicial hierarchy. He, in fact, took the case from the High Court to the Supreme Court. The case even went on review. Justice Torkornoo, furthermore, ruled against him in one of her decisions. Consequently, Ofori argued that their past history indicated bias. He believed her prior comments in other cases would negatively influence her against him. As a result, he contended she would be biased in any future matter involving Ecobank.
The presidential staffer, consequently, emphasized that political motivations are not behind the removal of Chief Justice. She added that claiming the NDC administration orchestrated the removal is misleading. Annan made it clear that a new government does not just come into power and immediately seek to remove a Chief Justice. “It cannot be that the NDC came to power, and within four months, it was on our agenda to remove the Chief Justice,” she added. This highlights the long history of the legal battles. Therefore, a new government’s actions cannot be the sole cause for the removal. The petition’s origin lies in a personal legal history, not a political agenda. The complex background of this case deserves proper consideration.
Source: CitiNewsroom
