Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai, has called for calm and restraint following the suspension of the Chief Justice, Mrs Gertrude Torkornoo, by President John Mahama, urging Ghanaians not to politicize what he described as a “technical and legal issue.”
Speaking on an interview regarding the ongoing controversy, Justice Srem-Sai emphasised that the suspension appears to be a constitutional step aimed at allowing the Chief Justice the space to adequately prepare to defend herself against allegations made in a formal petition.
“I think what is happening is a very technical issue which is specifically prescribed and dictated by the Constitution,” he said. “It shouldn’t be politicised at all.”
His comments follow heated public discourse after the President announced the suspension of the Chief Justice pending the outcome of an investigative process triggered by a petition. The Deputy Attorney General referenced a poll by Global Info Analytics indicating that a majority of Ghanaians currently support the removal of the Chief Justice. However, he cautioned against jumping to conclusions.
“At this stage, we are not even sure whether the allegations are proven,” Srem-Sai noted. “Finding that a case exists to be answered does not mean that the Chief Justice is guilty. It only means that the allegations are not frivolous.”
He also criticised what he described as contradictory and premature commentary from some political actors, noting that such statements risk undermining the integrity of the constitutional process. “If you have not seen the petition and its content, it would be very unfair to describe persons involved in the process in such terms,” he said. “I wouldn’t be in support of that kind of attention at this time.”
Justice Srem-Sai reiterated that the constitutional process has so far been followed appropriately and called on Ghanaians to remain patient as the matter proceeds through the formal investigative stages.
“There will be a time when the committee makes its findings that the Chief Justice is exonerated or the Chief Justice is guilty… that will be the time for us to pass judgment,” he said. “Until then, we should be watchful of the steps ahead. If at any point we see that the process has violated the Constitution, we will be the first to say so. But for now, the processes have been complied with,” he added.
