The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an objection raised by former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, which sought to bar Acting Chief Justice, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, from presiding over an injunction application challenging the removal process of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
Dame argued that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie stood to benefit from the outcome of the case and therefore had a conflict of interest that could impair his impartiality.
However, the objection was firmly countered by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Srem-Sai, who told the court that Dame’s claims were unfounded and stemmed from a flawed interpretation of judicial impartiality.
According to him, there was no evidence suggesting that Justice Baffoe-Bonnie would derive any personal or professional gain from the proceedings.
Following a brief in-camera session, the Supreme Court returned with a unanimous ruling that cleared Justice Baffoe-Bonnie of any conflict, affirming his continued role in presiding over the matter.
The ruling is a significant development in the ongoing legal contest surrounding the controversial suspension of Chief Justice Torkornoo, who was removed by President John Dramani Mahama on April 22 after a prima facie case was established based on three separate petitions.
The suspension, executed under Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution, has been sharply criticized by the opposition and legal analysts as politically motivated.
