The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has accused suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo of committing contempt against the Supreme Court following her recent public press conference addressing her removal process.
Taking to social media, the lawmaker, who is also a legal practitioner, expressed strong disapproval of the Chief Justice’s public commentary while her case is still pending before the apex court.
“The law is trite that when a party is aggrieved by a decision of a Court or a quasi-judicial body, you don’t hold a press conference to ventilate,” Dafeamekpor wrote.
“You simply take remediable steps provided under law. You appeal, if it’s a Court, and if it’s an admin body, you file an application in Judicial Review.”
He cited established legal precedent, referencing the Boyefio vs. NTHC [1997–98] SC case to emphasize that once the law provides a procedure for redress, it is that path — and no other — that must be followed.
“In effect, where a procedure is provided under law for a right to be exercised, it’s only that procedure that must be followed,” he added.
Dafeamekpor further quoted the renowned jurist Lord Denning, saying:
“Ex nihilo, nihil fit. You can’t put something on nothing and expect it to stand.”
According to him, the Chief Justice’s decision to speak publicly — especially while a legal challenge related to her removal is still active — constitutes both contempt of court and disrespect toward the powers of the Article 146 Committee, chaired by Justice Pwamang.
“This presser by our beleaguered CJ is contemptuous of the Supreme Court as she presently has a case pending before the Court, as well as contumacious of the powers of the Article 146 Pwamang Committee,” he declared.
The Chief Justice, during her press briefing, raised constitutional concerns over the procedure being used to remove her from office, calling for transparency and accusing the process of violating her rights.
Dafeamekpor, however, insists that the courtroom — not the media — is the appropriate venue for such grievances to be resolved.
“I rest here,” he concluded.
