Dame Takes On Attorney Genera, Files Suit Over Chief Justice Removal
Accra, Ghana - 27 March, 2025 - Ghana's Supreme Court is facing a high-stakes lawsuit filed by Godfred Yeboah Dame, the immediate past Attorney General, on behalf of Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo.
The lawsuit challenges President Mahama's handling of petitions calling for the removal of the Chief Justice, arguing that the President's actions are procedurally flawed and unconstitutional.
At the heart of the case is the issue of whether the President must notify the Chief Justice and obtain their comments before consulting the Council of State on removal petitions. Assafuah's suit claims that failure to do so would undermine the Chief Justice's security of tenure and interfere with the independence of the judiciary.
The plaintiff is seeking several declarations from the Supreme Court, including that the President's actions are in breach of Articles 146, 23, 57(3), and 296 of the Constitution. The court is also being asked to declare that the consultation process is null and void due to the President's failure to obtain the Chief Justice's comment.
The case has significant implications for the separation of powers in Ghana and the independence of the judiciary. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter in the coming weeks, with the Attorney-General required to respond within 14 days of service.
Source: Lead News Online
