The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has cautioned that Ghana risks establishing a “dangerous precedent” in the hand
The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has cautioned that Ghana risks establishing a “dangerous precedent” in the handling of constitutional matters, particularly concerning the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Baffour Awuah emphasized that the Constitution should not be treated as “mere letters”, warning that shortcuts in due process could have long-term implications for governance and the judiciary.
“If you look at the Chief Justice issue, it was not only the Minority raising concerns. Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo also flagged issues,” he said.
“The route we are taking is not clear, and it will affect us in the long run. The Constitution is not just letters; we should not set a dangerous precedent.”
The MP questioned the grounds on which Justice Torkornoo was removed, insisting that proper investigations and an auditor-general’s report should have preceded any parliamentary action. He noted that the absence of adverse findings in the report made her dismissal particularly troubling.
Mr. Baffour Awuah also expressed concern about increasing executive interference in the judiciary, calling for comprehensive reforms to strengthen judicial independence.
“I feel we need serious reform in our judiciary system, away from the hands of the executive. The interference is real,” he stated.
Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie was sworn in as the new Chief Justice on November 17, following Justice Torkornoo’s removal in September after a committee cited grounds of misbehavior.