Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has warned members of the Supreme Court, cautioning them against what he described as judicial overreach and selective justice in the ongoing controversy surrounding the recommendation for the removal of Chief Justice Araba Essah Torkornoo.
The Effutu lawmaker accused Justice Gabriel Pwamang and other members of the Committee that investigated the former Chief Justice of undermining due process and tainting the image of the judiciary.
Speaking at a leadership meeting in Parliament on Wednesday, Afenyo-Markin stressed, “A referral has been made to you as a committee. You have three petitions before you. You are done with one, yet before the others are heard, a report recommending her removal is reportedly done. The Committee must be ashamed of itself.”
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The Minority Leader accused Justice Pwamang of acting in haste and disregard for fairness while cases relating to the same matter are still pending in court.
According to him, Justice Torkornoo has a case in the High Court and another before the ECOWAS Court challenging the process. Yet the committee rushed to conclude. How can that be justice?” he questioned.
Afenyo-Markin reminded Justice Pwamang of his own past, revealing that petitions were once filed against him at the General Legal Council when he was nominated to the Supreme Court.
According to him, despite the petitions, Parliament proceeded in fairness to vet him. “He should think about tomorrow. He is signing the death warrant of his own calling,” Afenyo-Markin warned.
The Minority Leader warned judges and political leaders alike to reflect on the consequences of their actions, hinting that a future government could revisit these developments.
“If you succeed in kicking out this innocent woman who has served her country faithfully, what do you achieve? When another government comes in 2029, will that be justice?” he asked.
“Let’s be careful with this reset. That reset must be positive. Because there is always a tomorrow. We need to manage how we go about things,” he said emphatically.
The Constitutional Committee, chaired by Justice Gabriel Pwamang, recommended the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo after hearing one of three petitions filed against her. The Chief Justice has since challenged the legality of the process at both the High Court and the ECOWAS Court, citing procedural irregularities.