By Francis Kobena Tandoh
Women’s group, the International Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA)-Ghana, is calling for transparency and quick resolution of matters before the five-member committee tasked to probe petitions against the Chief Justice to enable her to resume her duties.
A statement released by FIDA Ghana on Thursday, signed by Susan Aryeetey, Acting Executive Director, expresses profound concern over the recent suspension of the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
According to the group, the action by the president has repercussions on the judicial, constitutional governance, and gender parity in national development.
“The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Ghana expresses its profound concern over the recent suspension of the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana. This action has far-reaching implications for the independence of the judiciary, the protection of constitutional governance, and the ongoing commitment to gender parity in national leadership,” said the statement.
FIDA-Ghana said a Chief Justice is a symbol of integrity, impartiality, and independence that defines the rule of law in any democracy; hence, the suspension of Justice Torkornoo, one of the few women to have held this position in Ghana’s history, raises serious constitutional, institutional, and societal concerns.
Such an act, if devoid of transparency, due process, and public accountability, FIDA emphasized, “undermines public trust in the very institutions meant to uphold justice.”
The women lawyers’ association called for “transparency regarding the process and urgent resolution of the matters before the committee to enable the Chief Justice to resume her constitutional duties to the Judiciary and Ghana.”
FIDA-Ghana advised that the right of the Chief Justice must be respected and upheld at all times, and her office be treated with the dignity that it deserves.
The group also said the increasing spate of removal of individuals from strategic constitutional and institutional leadership, especially when such persons are women regrettable and weakens state institutions.
“These removals have become the norm whenever there is a change in government from the leadership of one party to another. These actions serve only to weaken public and constitutional institutions and may potentially discourage competent and qualified individuals, particularly women, from accepting appointments to serve their nation in those institutions,” it added.
It recommended for an urgent constitutional and legal reforms to provide stronger protections for office holders, especially heads of independent constitutional bodies, to prevent arbitrary dismissals and reiterated the call for implementation of the provisions of the Affirmative Action and (Gender Equity Act), 2024 Act 1121) to provide 30% of females in leadership positions as a matter of national priority and justice. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
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