Kwaku Ansa-Asare, the former Director of the Ghana School of Law, has emphasized that the former Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, cannot claim ignorance regarding controversial payments identified within the Judicial Service.
In an appearance on TV3's The Key Points on Saturday, Ansa-Asare stated, "The Chief Justice cannot deny responsibility for these payments. As the head of the Judicial Service, the responsibility ultimately lies with her."
Ansa-Asare's comments come after President John Dramani Mahama's decision to remove Justice Torkornoo from office. This action followed findings from an Article 146 Committee that investigated allegations of financial misconduct. The committee's report concluded that the former Chief Justice had inappropriately used public funds to cover the costs of two international trips taken in September 2023: one to Tanzania with her husband and another to the United States with her daughter.
Franklin Cudjoe, the President of IMANI Africa, further weighed in on the issue. Cudjoe suggested that the seriousness of the misconduct outlined in the report could have led to criminal charges in other jurisdictions. He pointed out that Torkornoo had received an imprest (advance) which she was not authorized to spend.
During an interview on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue, Cudjoe rejected the argument that Justice Torkornoo should be excused due to lack of guidance from financial officers. "The idea that she should be absolved because she relied on financial officers' advice is irrelevant," Cudjoe asserted.
The controversy surrounding these financial transactions continues to raise questions about accountability and governance within the Judicial Service, as calls for further investigation into public officials’ handling of state resources grow louder.
Source: mynewsgh
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