President John Dramani Mahama has been petitioned by a Ghanaian citizen to reconsider his decision to investigate and further remove Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
Mr Alfred Ababio, who petitioned the president, wants an immediate dissolution of a five-member committee established to ensure the sacking of the Chief Justice.
He explained in the petition sighted by Theannouncergh that the integrity and credibility of the committee members are ‘questionable’, hence, the call to dissolve the panel.
"Respectfully, I deem it my duty to bring to your attention the conduct of some members of the committee set up by your good self, which clearly has compromised their fairness and brought the committee into disrepute.
“In the evening of 15th May, 2025, between 7.30 and 8.30 pm, Justices Gabriel Pwamang and Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu together with Justice Yonni Kulendi of the Supreme Court of Ghana were seen having dinner with the counsel for one of the petitioners before the committee, Mr. Thaddeus Sory at the Santoku Restaurant, located at Villagio, Airport Residential Area, Accra.”
“The strange meeting of the four persons who are keenly interested in and have played, and indeed continue to play, critical roles initiated in the processes for the removal of the Chief Justice excited the curiosity of some persons in the restaurant. Indeed, they were overheard discussing matters relating to the petition.”
“Respectfully, the record of the presence of the four Justices Pwamang, Kulendi, Asiedu and lawyer Thaddeus Sory at the restaurant and the meeting they had can easily be verified and confirmed.” Portions of the petition to the president read.
Mr Ababio further said, “Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu is also on record to have been one of those who actively lobbied to be the Chief Justice after the exit of Justice Anin Yeboah.”
“He was also, however, disappointed by President Akufo-Addo on account of being far junior in the Supreme Court at that time. He thus has a personal interest in the removal processes underway.”
These and other claims, according to Mr Ababio's petition, make the committee unfit to continue with their mandate.
He argued that the process, if allowed to proceed, would further damage the reputation of the judicial system while losing public confidence in its operation.
“In the interest of preserving the integrity of the process, I hereby petition you for an immediate dissolution of the committee as its ability to dispense justice is clearly compromised.” Mr Ababio tells President Mahama in his petition.
Read the petition below
HIS EXCELLENCY JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA,
JUBILEE HOUSE,
ACCRA.
Your Excellency,
RE: PETITION FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF COMMITTEE FORMED UNDER ARTICLE 146(6) OF THE CONSTITUTION TO INQUIRE INTO PETITIONS AGAINST THE CHIEF JUSTICE
Respectfully, I am a citizen of Ghana and one with keen interest in the protection of the Constitution, particularly, all steps taken by the President in furtherance of his duty to execute and maintain the Constitution and the laws of Ghana pursuant to article 58(1) of the Constitution of Ghana.
On 22nd April, 2025, the Spokesperson to the President informed the nation of the composition of a five-member committee under article 146(6) of the Constitution to inquire into three petitions for the removal of the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo. The members of the committee were stated as:
1. Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang – Supreme Court Judge
2. Justice Samuel Adibu-Asiedu – Supreme Court Judge
3. Daniel Yao Domelovo – former Auditor-General
4. Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo – Member of the Ghana Armed Forces
5. Professor James Sefah Dzisah – Professor, University of Ghana
The Spokesperson to the President followed up with another press release on 14th May, 2025, in which he indicated that the committee would hold its first sitting on Thursday, 15th May, 2025.
Respectfully, I deem it my duty to bring to your attention the conduct of some members of the committee set up by your good self which clearly has compromised their fairness and brought the committee into disrepute.
In the evening of 15th May, 2025, between 7.30 and 8.30 pm, Justices Gabriel Pwamang and Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu together with Justice Yonni Kulendi of the Supreme Court of Ghana were seen having dinner with the counsel for one of the petitioners before the committee, Mr. Thaddeus Sory at the Santoku Restaurant, located at Villagio, Airport Residential Area, Accra. The strange meeting of the four persons who are keenly interested in and have played, and indeed continue to play, critical roles initiated in the processes for the removal of the Chief Justice excited the curiosity of some persons in the restaurant. Indeed, they were overheard discussing matters relating to the petition.
Respectfully, the record of the presence of the four – Justices Pwamang, Kulendi, Asiedu and lawyer Thaddeus Sory at the restaurant and the meeting they had– can easily be verified and confirmed.
The above development is of grave worry as proceedings for the removal of the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana is a very solemn and serious process and should not lend itself to manipulation by any person or authority. The meeting between Justices Pwamang, Kulendi and Asiedu with Thaddeus Sory clearly has destroyed the integrity of the process and reduces public confidence in the process so far.
Both Justices Asiedu and Pwamang are members of the panel set up to inquire into the petition. They have no business meeting counsel for one of the petitioners outside working hours at an unofficial place – a restaurant – and to have a discussion.
This is more serious when the record shows that Justice Pwamang gave judgments in favour of the same petitioner, Daniel Ofori represented by the same counsel, Thaddeus Sory in the Supreme Court. Justice Torkornoo, the record shows rather gave opinions against the said Daniel Ofori in one of the cases. Further, Justice Pwamang is known to be interested in becoming the Chief Justice following your election as President of the Republic.
Justice Yonni Kulendi is widely known to have been a close rival to Justice Torkornoo for the position of Chief Justice when same became vacant after the exit of Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah. He lobbied vigorously for the position but was disappointed by President Akufo-Addo. It is therefore not surprising that he voted with alacrity against the plaintiff, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, to dismiss an injunction application filed by him to restrain the taking of further steps under article 146 until the suit filed by him to challenge the process is determined. Clearly, he has an interest in seeing the exit of Justice Torkornoo as Chief Justice. He is known to be interested in being appointed Chief Justice.
Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu is also on record to have been one of those who actively lobbied to be the Chief Justice after the exit of Justice Anin Yeboah. He was also however disappointed by President Akufo-Addo on account of being far junior in the Supreme Court at that time. He thus has a personal interest in the removal processes underway.
Respectfully, in view of the matters set out above, the membership of Justices Pwamang and Asiedu of the committee set up by your good self is an affront to justice.
The meeting they had with Thaddeus Sory at Santoku Restaurant on Thursday, 15th May, 2025 clearly brings the administration of justice in the three petitions into disrepute and compromises their ability to discharge their ability to efficiently discharge their duties to the Republic under article 146 of the Constitution. Their conduct is deplorable and most unbecoming of Justices occupying the highest court of Ghana. It has the tendency to show that the whole process, quite unfortunately, is a sham.
In the interest of preserving the integrity of the process, I hereby petition you for an immediate dissolution of the committee as its ability to dispense justice is clearly compromised.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
