Former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye, has voiced strong opposition to the decision to hold an in-camera hearing on the petitions filed against suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
The Chief Justice was suspended following the establishment of a prima facie case by President John Mahama, in consultation with the Council of State, in accordance with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution. The suspension comes amid petitions calling for her removal from office.
Speaking in an interview with JoyNews on Thursday, May 8, 2025, Prof. Ocquaye argued that the hearing must be transparent and respect the human rights of the accused. He warned that secret trials erode public trust and accountability in national matters.
“If it is going to be a secret trial, I won’t appear and I won’t enter any plea. You can do whatever you want to do. I would prefer the world to hear the issues, and I will bow out if the evidence proves so. That is my position, as a matter of principle,” he stated.
The former Speaker emphasized that transparency is essential, particularly in Ghana, where many public matters are already clouded in controversy.
“Putting a person in a room and coming out later to say what happened there—when in this country, we already have so much contention over things we all see and hear—only deepens the confusion,” he said.
Prof. Ocquaye stressed the importance of upholding human rights in the proceedings and called for a fair and open trial to ensure justice is done and seen to be done.
“It is a human rights issue. The rights of the accused person must be seriously examined. Give them a fair and open trial so the public can see and judge accordingly,” he concluded.
