Akufo-Addo can’t go ahead with Chief Justice’s request for additional justices if…- Kpebu

For the president to appoint Supreme Court justices there has to be a recommendation from the Judicial Council to that effect, Private legal Practitioner Martin Kpebu, has said.

Without a recommendation from the Judicial Council, the president cannot proceed with the process of appointing new justices of the apex court, he said.

Regarding a letter by the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaba Torkonoo to President Akufo-Addo requesting for the addition of five more Judges, Kpebu said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, July 6 that “There must be a recommendation from the Judicial Council…If the president has not received advice from the judicial council he cannot start.”

Meanwhile, the Attorney-General, Godfred Dame, said it is worthy to note that the Supreme Court of Ghana is quite unique and different from other Supreme Courts around the world.

Godfred Dame said this while rejecting claims that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is packing the Supreme Court following the recent request by the Chief Justice to appoint five more justices of the apex court.

“What I am aware of is the request from Chief Justice, I believe that the Judiciary is no doubt better placed to provide ample justification for the need for an enhanced Supreme Court, but again it is worthy to note that the Supreme Court of Ghana is quite unique and different from other Supreme Courts around the world,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the United States Independence Day Event at the Embassy Garden in Accra.

So it is not the case that you are packing the court? he was asked.

In answer, Godfred Dame said, “Definitely not so what is this allegation about packing the court.”

His comments come at a time when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is accusing Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo and President Akufo-Addo of packing the Supreme Court with the recommendation of five Justices to be added to the Supreme Court Justices.

The President’s recommendation follows a letter by the Supreme Court’s Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaba Torkonoo to President Akufo-Addo requesting for the addition of five more Judges.

General Secretary of the NDC, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey in a press conference on Thursday, July 4 described the recommendation as an affront to Ghana’s democracy.

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He noted that President Akufo-Addo together with the Chief Justice are conniving to impose a “direct threat to Ghana’s Judicial system.”

“This isn’t just a political maneuver of an already exiting failed President; it’s an assault on our democracy, a betrayal of public trust.

According to the NDC, the addition of the five Judges to the Supreme Court Justices will only contribute to creating “judiciary that is no longer a check on executive power, but a mere extension of it.”

“This is not the Ghana our forefathers fought for; this is not the democracy we pledged to uphold. Our nation deserves better, and it is our duty to stand up and protect the very foundations of our democratic society,” Fiifi Kwetey stated.

The party further urged President Akufo-Addo to halt the Supreme Court appointments.

“We demand that President Akufo-Addo immediately stop any plans to appoint additional judges to the Supreme Court.”

Mr. Kwetey argued that the Chief Justice’s letter to the President is unconstitutional as there’s “nowhere in the Constitution where the Chief Justice is named as the one to recommend persons to the President for appointment to the Supreme Court.”

The five judges recommended by the Chief Justice include Her Ladyship Justice Angelina Mensah Homiah, His Lordship Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, His Lordship Justice Edward Amoako Asante, Her Ladyship Justice Cyra Pamela C.A Koranteng, and Her Ladyship Justice Afia Asare Botwe, the judge currently presiding over the Ambulance trial.