The Presidency has broken its silence following a widely watched press conference held by suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, firmly defending President John Dramani Mahama’s actions regarding her removal process and dismissing allegations of political interference.
In a statement delivered on behalf of the Presidency by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, government spokesperson, immediately after the CJ’s pressconference, the Presidency maintained that all procedures undertaken thus far concerning the petition to remove the Chief Justice have been executed in strict conformity with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.
“That is why all those who have commented on the matter, including Her Ladyship the Chief Justice herself, have been unable to point to any specific provision under Article 146 that the President has breached,” Kwakye stated.
He further emphasized that the President has respected the confidentiality provisions embedded in the Constitution and has not, at any time, leaked or hinted at the contents of the petition seeking the Chief Justice’s removal.
“At no point in time has the Presidency put out anything — in any way, shape or form — that remotely resembles any of the contents of the petition,” Kwakye noted.
“The only communication that has gone out on this matter has been about the steps the President has taken in accordance with Article 146.”
The statement also took issue with what Kwakye described as an insinuation by the Chief Justice that the removal process was politically motivated.
According to him, such suggestions are unfounded and undermine the integrity of the constitutional process.
“Her Ladyship all but insinuated that there was some political agenda at play to oust her and that this whole process is a result of sin.
“Let me place on record, without fear of contradiction, and let me be clear that no such political agenda exists,” he asserted.
The statement comes amid intense national debate and public scrutiny over the unprecedented nature of a Chief Justice facing removal proceedings — a first in Ghana’s 68-year history as an independent republic.
While the Chief Justice has raised questions over the transparency, timing, and intent behind the process, the Presidency insists that it is merely acting as a constitutional conveyor, facilitating a process triggered by a petition — as stipulated in the Constitution.
