Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has said the new set of rules to govern the process for removing justices of Ghana’s superior courts, including the Chief Justice, will require a lot of stakeholder consultation before it is approved.
He argues that the law cannot be passed in just three months.
Kpebu says the new rules will need the input of stakeholders. It will also require extensive consultation before approval, he said.
“I don’t know how we can pass that Law in Less than 3 months,” he said on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, May 31.
He added, “Let’s take time on it, it will require a lot of input.”
Last week, amid the ongoing proceedings involving the suspended Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, who is currently facing potential removal from office following allegations of misconduct, the Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga announced in Parliament that the government is preparing to introduce a comprehensive set of rules to guide the process for removing justices of Ghana’s superior courts, including the Chief Justice.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, May 27, during the first sitting after the House reconvened from recess, Ayariga outlined the Mahama administration’s legislative priorities.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening judicial independence while ensuring mechanisms exist to hold judges accountable within a fair and transparent framework.
According to Ayariga, the legal reforms will include the introduction of detailed procedures for the removal of judges of the Supreme Court and other superior courts.
These are intended to address gaps in the current constitutional and legal framework that have led to confusion and legal disputes in recent high-profile cases.
“The Attorney General will also introduce several subsidiary legislation, including the Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring Regulations, Court of Appeal Rules, Economic and Organised Crime Office (Operations) Regulations, Economic and Organised Crime Office (Terms and Conditions of Service) Regulations, High Court (Civil Procedure) (Amendment) Rules, Interpretation Regulations, Judicial Service (Terms and Conditions of Service) Regulations, Legal Aid Commission Regulations, Supreme Court Rules and, very significantly, Removal from Office of Justices of the Supreme Court Rules,” Ayariga stated.
He stressed that the proposed rules would bring much-needed clarity to the process and eliminate the ambiguities that have plagued recent removal attempts.
“President John Dramani Mahama is determined to fast-track legislative reforms to strengthen our institutions of governance and further entrench our democracy,” he added.
“The president is committed to legislative clarity with transparency when it comes to the constitutional mechanics of the removal of justices of the superior courts.”
