Paul Baffoe-Bonnie is Acting CJ as Gertrude Torkornoo is on suspension
The Acting Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, is leading a newly constituted panel to preside over the hearing of an injunction suit filed against the removal of suspended Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkornoo.
The new panel consists of:
Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie;
Justice Henrietta Mensah Bonsu;
Justice Yonny Kulendi;
Justice Amadu Tanko; and
Justice Ernest Gaewu.
The decision to reconstitute the panel overseeing the injunction suit against the removal of suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkornoo faced strong opposition from former Attorney General, Godfred Dame, who is also the legal representative for Vincent Ekow Asafuah, the petitioner seeking to halt the removal process.
Dame objected to the panel’s reconstitution, according to GhanaWeb’s legal affairs correspondent, George Ayisi, arguing that Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie — now presiding over the case — is directly affected by the outcome and therefore should not lead the proceedings.
However, Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem Sai, argued that there is a misconception of personal benefit to the Acting CJ, but that is not so.
However, after a brief deliberation, the court unanimously overruled Dame’s objection, affirming that the new panel, chaired by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, will proceed with the hearing.
The panel was reconstituted due to changes in the composition of the bench, with some justices now serving on the Chief Justice Removal Committee and others being replaced.
The original panel, which was presided over by Prof Henrietta Mensah Bonsu, included Samuel Asiedu (now on the removal committee), Ernest Gaewu (who retains his place on the new panel), Yaw Asare Darko, and Richard Adjei Frimpong — both of whom have been replaced.
MAG/AE
