The Presidency has taken strong exception to suggestions made by suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo during her recent press conference, describing her remarks as “regrettable” and cautioning against what it sees as an attempt to taint a constitutionally mandated process with political undertones.
In a direct response delivered on behalf of the Presidency, Felix Kwakye reaffirmed President John Dramani Mahama’s unwavering commitment to the Constitution, refuting allegations of a political motive in the steps taken regarding the petition for the Chief Justice’s removal.
“To attempt to cast aspersions on the Presidency is most unfortunate and it cautions what should be a smooth process leading to the determination of the merit or otherwise of the petitions that have been brought,” Kwakye said.
He described the press conference by the Chief Justice as disappointing, stating, “In summary, I would say what has happened today is most regrettable.”
Kwakye further noted that the President has not veered from the dictates of the law, emphasizing that due process is being followed strictly in accordance with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.
“The President has kept fidelity to the Constitution from the beginning,” he stressed.
Responding to the suggestion that the process is politically motivated, Kwakye issued a firm denial: “Let me place on record without fear of contradiction and let me be clear that no such political agenda has occurred.”
He reminded the public that the President, who is overseeing the constitutional procedure as stipulated, was sworn in by the very person now accusing him — the Chief Justice herself.
“His Excellency the President took an oath to which he was incidentally sworn by Her Ladyship, the Chief Justice herself and in that oath he swore to abide by the 1992 Constitution,” he pointed out.
Kwakye maintained that any suggestion of a hidden political motive is entirely baseless.
“Any claim, any inference of a political motive to the President in respect of these processes are unfounded, false and cannot be allowed to stand and I wish to place that on record,” he said.
The Chief Justice, in her earlier press engagement, expressed frustration over what she described as an opaque and flawed removal process. She defended her decision not to resign in the face of what she views as a constitutional aberration.
“If I resign under these circumstances, I will be saying that this flawed, unknown and opaque process is acceptable. It is not,” she declared.
