Justice Pwamang is lobbying to become next Chief Justice – Afenyo-Markin

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has alleged that Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, who chaired the committee that investigated petitions seeking the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, is lobbying to become the next Chief Justice.

Mr Afenyo-Markin made the allegation while questioning the committee’s decision to conclude its work and recommend Justice Torkornoo’s removal despite two of the three petitions before it still being pending.

Speaking on Atinka TV on Monday, August 17, the Minority Leader argued that the committee had fully considered only one of the petitions but proceeded to submit its report recommending the removal of Justice Torkornoo.

He questioned the fairness of concluding the process when the remaining petitions had not been fully heard.

“You finished the hearing of one petition. The other two were pending, yet you completed your report and recommended the dismissal of Justice Torkornoo as Chief Justice. As my Lord Baffoe-Bonnie is exiting, I am aware you are also lobbying to become the next Chief Justice.

“How would you feel if somebody did this to you?” he questioned.

Mr Afenyo-Markin said the handling of the removal proceedings raised concerns about fairness and due process.

“In this country, we are so unfair to one another,” he added.

Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang chaired the five-member committee constituted by President John Dramani Mahama to investigate petitions seeking the removal of Justice Torkornoo after a prima facie case was established.

Justice Pwamang, who was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2015, remains a member of the Supreme Court bench.

Mr Afenyo-Markin’s allegation that Justice Pwamang is lobbying for the position of Chief Justice has not been independently established.