The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has condemned as illegal Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo’s recent recommendation of five judges for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to be nominated to the Supreme Court.
The General Secretary of the party, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey emphasized during a news conference in Accra that the Chief Justice is not authorized by the constitution to suggest persons for candidacy to the Supreme Court.
“Nowhere in the constitution is the Chief Justice named as the one to recommend persons to the president for appointment to the Supreme Court. We wish to state, without any equivocation, that the Chief Justice’s letter is illegal and of no effect,” Mr. Kwetey declared.
He went on to critique the Chief Justice’s actions, stating: “Her actions have completely turned over due process on its head and compromised her independence as the head of the judicial system. We are concerned about a worrying pattern that irresistibly suggests that the president is only appointing loyal members of his party to this court to have control over the judiciary to escape post-regime accountability.”
The judges recommended for nomination by Chief Justice Torkornoo include Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botchwey, the presiding judge in the ambulance case involving Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, along with Justice Cyra Pamela Koranteng, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, and Justice Angelina Mensah Homiah.
