A Circuit Court judge, Alfred Kwabena Asiedu, has been dismissed from the Judicial Service by the Chief Justice (CJ) for abusing his office.
The judge, who prior to his dismissal was stationed at the Jasikan Circuit Court in the Oti region was accused of abuse of office which was reported to the Disciplinary Committee of the Judicial Council.
The Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, in a letter written to Mr. Asiedu November 13, 2023, said the Jasikan Circuit Court judge, upon a decision taken by the Disciplinary Committee of the Judicial Council, should be removed from office based on the findings stated in the committee’s report.
Mr. Asiedu was accused of having a relationship with a petitioner whose divorce case was before him and maliciously caused her arrest without justification.
“I write with reference to the petition of abuse of power, sexual exploitation, malicious prosecution and impropriety against you, received from one Singari Diana Sadia, dated
16th January 2023.
“In line with the Disciplinary’ Procedures of the Service, you were invited to appear before the Disciplinary Commnittee of the Judicial Council, which had been mandated to investigate the allegations against you.
“The Disciplinary Committee, after investigating the above-mentioned matter, found that you misconducted yourself as a Judge as there was ample evidence that you were involved in an improper relationship with the Petitioner, who had a Divorce case pending before you,” the Chief Justice stated in her letter.
She continued that, “the Disciplinary Committee also estabiished the allegation of abuse of power and malicious prosecution against you as you were found to have caused the arrest and prosecution of the Petitioner without justification.
“The Committee consequently recommended that you should be dismissed.
“The report of the Disciplinary Committee was subsequently submitted to the Judicial Council at its 279th meeting held on 25th October 2023: the Council adopted the report of the Disciplinary Committee and decided that your above-stated actions constituted Stated Misbehaviour.”
According to Madam Torkornoo, “in accordance with article 151 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, all members of the Judicial Council present at the said meeting, resolved that you should be removed from office for Stated Misbehaviour.
“You are therefore removed from Office as a Circuit Court Judge, with immediate effect.”
“By a copy of this letter, the Director of Human Resource is requested to ensure that your name is deleted from the payroll of the Service with immediate effect,” the letter added.
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