Former Attorney-General and anti-corruption crusader, Martin Amidu, has once again waded into the legal firestorm surrounding the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, warning that her ongoing efforts to stop the impeachment process could endanger the public’s trust in the judiciary.
In a new open letter, Amidu argues that both the Chief Justice and her legal team face a daunting legal challenge, especially in light of binding Supreme Court decisions that firmly reject attempts to abort impeachment proceedings once initiated. Citing landmark cases — Ghana Bar Association v Attorney-General, Agyei-Twum v Attorney-General, and Dery v Attorney-General — Amidu emphasizes that the Supreme Court has been unequivocal in its interpretation of Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.
“The annulment of the petition is not a remedy available to a respondent to the petition,” Amidu stated, quoting the Court’s ruling in the Dery case. “From the moment the President accepts the petition, the process of impeachment has commenced… It is impermissible to import any other mode into the Article to truncate the process.”
He further highlighted that the Court warned against circumventing due process, reminding the public and the judiciary alike that:
“Allegations of misconduct or misbehaviour against a public official, including a judge, should not be swept under the carpet… The very integrity of the Judiciary is at stake if such allegations are unexamined and found to be false.”
Amidu also criticised the increasing politicisation and media leaks of sensitive documents related to the petition, calling it a clear violation of constitutional provisions. According to him, those leaking documents or peddling unauthenticated content under the guise of “freedom of speech” risk undermining both the process and public confidence.
“Despite the decision in the Dery case, many unscrupulous Ghanaians have made it their forte to leak unauthenticated contents of the petitions allegedly submitted to the President,” he lamented.
Touching on recent legal maneuvers, Amidu confirmed that the Chief Justice and the immediate past Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, have filed a motion at the Supreme Court seeking an interlocutory injunction to halt the ongoing investigative committee set up by the President.
He revealed that although the application had been filed, the Statement of the Plaintiff’s Case was not submitted by 21 May 2025, making it difficult to evaluate the merits of their position.
“Every vigilant citizen knows that the Supreme Court rendered two decisions on 21 May 2025 which ruled against injuncting the committee,” he reminded.
Amidu, however, left room for the possibility that the eventual filing of the plaintiff’s statement could shift the narrative — but warned that “all eyes must be on the Supreme Court” as it navigates this uncharted territory.
Closing his letter with a strong appeal to constitutional loyalty, Amidu reminded Ghanaians that their ultimate fidelity should be to the Republic and its laws, not individuals or political loyalties:
“The Judiciary is the least dangerous branch and the citizen’s hope for freedom and justice… Caesar’s wife must be above suspicion! That is the only rational way to protect and defend the judiciary and administration of justice under a regime of laws and not of men demanded by the 1992 Constitution.”
