Petition to impeach EC Chair: Supreme Court adjourns case for panel to be reconstituted

The Supreme Court has adjourned the case involving the Electoral Commission and #FixTheCountry convenor Oliver Barker-Vormawor for the panel to be reconstituted.

Barker Vormawor in January 2022 petitioned President Akufo-Addo for the removal of the EC Chair and her deputies over their handling of the Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi, and Likpe (SALL)issue.

In the petition, the activist contended that the EC Chair and her Deputies per their conduct intentionally denied the people of SALL the right to vote in the 2020 elections.

In a countersuit, however, the EC Chair sued Barker-Vormawor and listed the AG and Chief Justice as defendants to stop the impeachment process.

The EC officials contended that Oliver Barker-Vormawor had published the content of the petition seeking their removal in the public domain contrary to Article 146(8) of the 1992 Constitution which states that: “All proceedings under this Article shall be held in camera, and the justice or chairman against whom the petition is made is entitled to be heard in his defence by himself or by a lawyer or other expert of his choice.”

In court on Wednesday, June 5, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo presiding over the panel of justices indicated that since she had been listed as a defendant, she ought to recuse herself. She asked the parties if they were not opposed to her sitting on the case to which lawyers of the Electoral Commission responded in the negative since their motion was to have the case discontinued altogether.

However, counsel for #FixTheCountry Movement led by Samuel Alesu-Dordzi indicated that they objected to the Chief Justice on the panel.

The apex court then adjourned the case for the panel to be reconstituted.

Meanwhile, days after being called to the bar, Ghanaian YouTube Elorm Ababio, also known as Ama Governor, appeared at the Supreme Court as part of the lawyers of Oliver Barker-Vormawor.

The social media influencer’s journey to the bar was characterised by consecutive denials by the General Legal Council in 2022 and 2023.

The graduate of the Ghana School of Law garnered attention online back in 2022 and 2023 when she was denied entry to be called to the Bar.

The General Legal Council cited “conduct unbecoming of an applicant to be called to the Bar” as the reason for not allowing her to be called to the Bar.