Council of State’s advice to suspend Chief Justice poisonous — Tuah-Yeboah

A former Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, has criticised the Council of State’s advice to suspend Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

The decision, which takes immediate effect until the outcome of investigations into petitions seeking the Chief Justice’s removal, is, according to Mr. Tuah-Yeboah, “poisonous.”

Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews following the announcement, the legal practitioner argued that the President is not bound to act on the advice of the Council of State, and if he does, the advice must be substantial.

“I’m rather surprised at the suspension of the Chief Justice. I’m surprised because the President is not bound by the advice of the Council. The President may decide not to go by the advice and indicate that the CJ should remain in office for the matter to be heard by the panel,” he said.

“But as a decision of the President, I see the advice of the Council of State to be very poisonous. We must be very careful the way we treat the head of an arm of government,” he added.

This comes after President John Dramani Mahama suspended the Chief Justice of the Republic, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, with immediate effect.

The decision follows the President’s determination, in accordance with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, that a prima facie case has been established in respect of three petitions filed against the Chief Justice.

A statement from the Presidency dated April 22 and signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications, announced that, in line with constitutional provisions, the President has also constituted a committee to inquire into the petitions.