Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, says he is “not surprised at all” by former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s decision to return to court in an attempt to halt the parliamentary vetting of Supreme Court nominee Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.
Speaking in an interview with the parliamentary press corps on Monday, Dr. Srem-Sai noted that while the former Chief Justice is entitled to seek redress through legal means, her latest action was “consistent with her long-standing approach to judicial accountability and interpretation of constitutional processes.”
“I’m not surprised at all by the decision of former CJ Torkornoo to go to court again to stop the vetting of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie,” he stated. “She has always been a firm believer in testing the limits of constitutional provisions through the courts, and this is no exception.”
Dr. Srem-Sai added that the Attorney-General’s office remains confident that Parliament acted within its constitutional mandate in proceeding with the vetting process, emphasizing that the separation of powers allows for such institutional interactions to be clarified through the courts when necessary.
“It’s within her right to challenge the process, and it’s equally within the state’s right to defend it. That’s how democracy works,” he said.
The former Chief Justice’s legal action reportedly challenges the procedure adopted by Parliament’s Appointments Committee in vetting Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, who has been nominated for elevation to a senior judicial position.
Dr. Srem-Sai said the Attorney-General’s Department is prepared to respond when served, reiterating that the matter will be handled purely within the confines of the law.
“We are ready. We’ll meet her arguments in court, as we’ve always done. There’s nothing unusual here,” he added.
