Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has described the removal of the Chief Justice as “a victory for the rule of law”.
Her removal by the President follows recommendations from a constitutional committee set up under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution on grounds of stated misbehaviour.
The decision came barely hours after the President received the report of a committee constituted under Article 146(6) to inquire into a petition filed by Ghanaian citizen Daniel Ofori. That was only one out of the three petitions.
Kwakye Ofosu firmly rejected claims that the move was politically motivated or intended to interfere with judicial independence.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Monday, September 1, the Minister sought to clarify the government’s position, following criticism from opposition figures and sections of civil society.
At the heart of the controversy is the term “resetting the judiciary”, which Mr Kwakye Ofosu said had been wilfully misinterpreted.
“It has nothing to do with resetting the judiciary,” he said. “Resetting the judiciary simply means that we demand that fairness and balance prevail in the way the judiciary does its work. That’s all it is about.”
He stressed that President Mahama had not acted outside his constitutional mandate, nor had he sought to influence judicial affairs through the Chief Justice’s removal.
“The President cannot go and physically purport to be resetting the judiciary by removing the Chief Justice,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu added. “This is a victory for the rule of law. The fundamental principle of the rule of law must be adhered to. All of us are equal before the rule of law.”