Lawyer and former Member of Parliament for Gomoa West, Alexander Kojo Abban, has come to the defense of suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, stating that her public comments regarding her ongoing removal process do not violate legal protocols.
Abban argues that the in-camera nature of the proceedings does not preclude the Chief Justice from expressing concerns about how she is being treated during the process. Speaking in a recent interview, he emphasized that the confidentiality requirement pertains specifically to the presentation of evidence, not broader issues such as personal dignity and human rights.
"Proceedings being held in-camera simply refer to how evidence is presented. The Chief Justice did not disclose any evidence in the media. If she is experiencing mistreatment beyond the legal proceedings, why shouldn’t she speak out?" he questioned.
According to Abban, Chief Justice Torkornoo’s comments focused on her right to fair treatment, which remains valid even within the constraints of a legal inquiry. He warned against conflating procedural confidentiality with the suppression of fundamental rights.
“There’s a thin line between maintaining confidentiality in judicial proceedings and silencing someone’s right to speak about violations of their rights. If she cannot speak up, then who can?” he added.
Abban also raised concerns about the structure of the inquiry, particularly how prima facie determinations were reached. He questioned whether all allegations in the multiple petitions against the Chief Justice met the threshold for further investigation.
“If we have five petitions with a total of 15 allegations, are we saying all 15 constituted prima facie cases? That’s unlikely,” he noted.
His remarks contrast with opinions from other legal experts, including Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, who argue that the Chief Justice’s public comments breach the in-camera directive and may be unconstitutional.
Nonetheless, Abban insists that Justice Torkornoo is merely demanding the basic protections guaranteed to every citizen under a democratic system.
“Is she asking for too much? No. She’s asking for what every individual is entitled to—fair and humane treatment,” he concluded.
Source: asaaseradio.com
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