Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has publicly reprimanded former Chief Justice and current Council of State member Sophia Akuffo for her recent criticisms of the constitutional procedures used to suspend and investigate Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
Speaking out against Akuffo’s remarks at the Constitutional Review Committee forum, Amidu accused her of breaching her oath by openly challenging Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution—the legal framework guiding the removal process of superior court judges.
Amidu highlighted that as a Council of State member, Akuffo was bound by confidentiality and ethical obligations, warning that her public commentary undermines both the committee’s work and public trust in the constitutional process. He further suggested that Akuffo’s intervention was a reaction to calls for transparency regarding her abstention from a key Council vote on the matter.
The former prosecutor also pointed to what he described as a double standard in Akuffo’s position, noting her call for an appeal mechanism solely for the Chief Justice while other judges remain excluded. Amidu recalled that during Akuffo’s own tenure as Chief Justice, she did not contest the removal of Electoral Commissioners without an appeal right, and that a petition against her was disregarded by President Akufo-Addo.
Invoking a Supreme Court ruling, Amidu emphasized the legal requirement for confidentiality surrounding petitions under Article 146 and decried the public airing of sensitive deliberations. He warned that such actions risk damaging the integrity of the judicial inquiry and eroding faith in Ghana’s constitutional processes.
Amidu concluded by underscoring the need for impartiality and discretion, insisting that no one involved should compromise the legitimacy of the judiciary’s disciplinary mechanisms.
