Ghanatodayonline.com News, Politics, Health, Education & More
Justice William Atuguba, a retired Supreme Court judge, has harshly criticized the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) for its stance on Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo’s suspension by President John Dramani Mahama.
Justice Atuguba criticized the GBA for being selective in its engagement on national concerns and called the organization’s actions disgusting.
With a threat of immediate legal action unless the decision is rescinded, the GBA had stepped up its objection to Mr. Mahama’s suspension of the Chief Justice. In a decision at its most recent mid-year meeting, the National Executive Council outlined its position and ruled that the suspension was illegal.
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has come under heavy fire from former Supreme Court justice William Atuguba for its position on President John Dramani Mahama’s suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
Justice Atuguba described the GBA’s activities as repulsive and chastised the group for being selective in its involvement on national issues.
The GBA had intensified its opposition to Mr. Mahama’s suspension of the Chief Justice, threatening to take immediate legal action unless the decision is overturned. The National Executive Council stated its stance and declared the suspension unlawful in a resolution at its most recent mid-year meeting.
“I think during Kufuor’s time, they started muting their voices… The proper approach is to be consistently vocal and proactive, and what they were doing contradicted that. Now, when the NDC comes to power, you hear them again,” he said.
The distinguished former judge went on to say that President Mahama’s suspension of the Chief Justice did not contravene any constitutional restrictions.
“I think originally they [GBA] adopted a balanced position on this matter… So, which law have they now found to have been broken?” he quizzed.
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) was also criticized by Justice Atuguba for how it handled the Chief Justice’s suspension, calling its response “rubbish” and claiming it only served to further their political agenda.
In a close 3-2 judgment on Tuesday, May 7, the Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by Ekow Vincent Assafuah, an MP from Old Tafo, contesting the President’s decision to suspend and begin removal proceedings against the Chief Justice due to charges of misconduct.
Justice Atuguba declared, “Scanning through the events in court, that is rubbish,” contending that the NPP had not objected to any of Justice Torkonoo’s rulings that favored them.
Cross-party dispute has been triggered by the suspension. The NPP has denounced it as a politically driven assault on judicial independence, even though the Presidency insists it conforms with constitutional standards. Hundreds of supporters, executives, sympathizers, and representatives of other opposition parties have attended the party’s marches in Accra.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
