Ghana's deputy attorney general says the president has every right to suspend the chief justice even though the case is in court. Dr. Justice Srem-Sai made this clear after critics called the move against Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo illegal. He spoke up yesterday on a morning radio show about how public officials must balance different concerns when making decisions.
The law allows leaders to keep doing their jobs when someone files a complaint, he explained. Public duties continue unless a court specifically orders them to stop. He noted that almost any government action upsets someone somewhere. The president can't wait around for every court case to finish before taking needed steps. No judge has ordered a halt to the chief justice suspension process.
Former lawmaker Samuel Atta Akyea had complained about the suspension, pointing to a pending court case filed by MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah. The critics believe the president should have waited for the Supreme Court to decide first. The dispute shows tension between presidential powers and judicial independence in Ghana's system. Both sides claim they follow proper legal procedures during this unusual political situation.
The law allows leaders to keep doing their jobs when someone files a complaint, he explained. Public duties continue unless a court specifically orders them to stop. He noted that almost any government action upsets someone somewhere. The president can't wait around for every court case to finish before taking needed steps. No judge has ordered a halt to the chief justice suspension process.
Former lawmaker Samuel Atta Akyea had complained about the suspension, pointing to a pending court case filed by MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah. The critics believe the president should have waited for the Supreme Court to decide first. The dispute shows tension between presidential powers and judicial independence in Ghana's system. Both sides claim they follow proper legal procedures during this unusual political situation.
