Ghana’s Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, has rejected a plea from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to disqualify Justice Edward Twum from matters concerning Cecilia Dapaah.
The OSP had lodged a complaint asserting that Justice Twum demonstrated partiality against their office and requested his withdrawal, a request that was turned down by the Chief Justice. Responding to this decision, the OSP shared on social media that the Judicial Secretary conveyed the Chief Justice’s inability to fulfill their plea.
Citing bias on the part of Justice Twum in their direction, the OSP justified their call for his removal from cases linked to their office.
During the recent proceedings overseen by Justice Twum on October 12, the case had to be postponed while awaiting the Chief Justice’s response to the plea for his removal. The case involves Cecilia Dapaah, the former sanitation minister, facing charges related to the alleged non-disclosure of her assets.
Public Notice
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By a letter dated 25 October 2023, the Judicial Secretary informed The Special Prosecutor that, the Chief Justice is unable to accede to the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) request for his lordship Justice Edward Twum to be recused and removed from…— Office of the Special Prosecutor-Ghana (@ospghana) October 25, 2023
Lawyers from the Office of the Special Prosecutor were absent in court as they sought the judge’s withdrawal from their cases, leading to interruptions in the legal proceedings.
The Chief Justice’s choice to retain Justice Twum has sparked conversations among legal experts and the public, highlighting the significance of impartiality and autonomy in the legal system.
As the dispute continues, the case concerning Cecilia Dapaah remains in limbo, awaiting further updates.
