“No Fair Trial” – Torkornoo claims impeachment process worse than treason cases

Suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has spoken out about a deliberate attempt to humiliate her in the ongoing impeachment proceedings “They want to break me,” she stated.

In a supplementary affidavit filed in support of a motion for interlocutory injunction at the Supreme Court, Justice Torkornoo accused the committee probing her of violating her constitutional rights and subjecting her to what she calls inhuman and degrading treatment.

No fair trial
Emphasising that she was not being taken through a fair trial, the Chief Justice said, “What I am going through is not even meted out to persons accused of treason.”

Citing examples, she said despite informing the committee of the suit she filed at the Supreme Court and providing copies of the processes, the committee proceeded with the inquiry the very next day.
“Notwithstanding receipt of the processes filed, the members of the committee indicated their resolve to proceed,” she stated, adding that she still has not been informed of the legal basis for determining that a prima facie case had been established against her.

“I do not know the specific allegations I am to answer to. I cannot even begin to prepare a defence,” she said.

She warned that the very foundation of judicial independence in Ghana is under attack.

Lawyer ignores
Again she mentioned how on May 15, her lawyer appeared before the committee in her absence, only to be ignored and sidelined by the same committee that had served him with hearing notices a day earlier. “The committee shockingly refused to recognise my counsel and proceeded to fix subsequent hearing dates without involving him,” she said.

Stop judicial assault
Justice Torkonoo said, “This Honourable Court is the only shield between me and an unconstitutional assault on the office I hold and the independence it symbolises.”

“Only you can stop this assault on judicial independence.”