A private legal practitioner, Kweku Paintsil, has criticised Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo Sackey for her role in the appointment of some justices to the apex court.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, he described the position the Chief Justice has assumed on the matter as “unusual.”

“Indeed, and in fact, I'm not too sure whether there has been a precedent to it. In other words, we have a Judicial Council, where this mostly rests, and the Chief Justice is a member of the Judicial Council.

“I would expect that that will be where all the discussions would normally have taken place and whatever decision that Judicial Council comes through, would then come out, or judicial does more reflective of the position and the role of the judge.

“I still cannot understand how it came to be that the Chief Justice on her own initiated this. I wouldn’t know what discussion she had, but it has nothing to do with the fact that we don't need more judges in the Supreme Court, but the procedures adopted are very unusual,” he said on Monday.

“And with due respect and my honest view, I'm not too sure it's right at all to assume that role in that position and project the issue. When we need justice in the Supreme Court it's not a problem of the Chief Justice alone, it is the problem of the judiciary as a whole.

“And even though we are members of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), obviously, we have much more interest in ensuring that our needs are met at the Supreme Court and of course, all the courts.

“This is a country which is divided on almost every issue and the role that the Chief Justice plays in what I call it a drama, ought to be checked and watched.

“And sometimes we say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. You must have the best of intentions, but the way you go about it may end up leaving a sour taste in the mouth of the public,” he said.

On his part, Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Officer of the opposition NDC, is calling for the head of the Chief Justice over what he describes as a “self-seeking” interest in the selection of some judges to the apex court.

Sammy Adu Gyamfi says although he is willing to overlook Gertrude Araba Torkornoo’s procedural flaws in the whole saga, her actions do not serve the interest of the country.

“What she has done is totally wrong, it was totally uncalled for, it is unconstitutional and I think she must eat humble pie, concede this fact, and make amends. But beyond the procedural flaws for me is the whole agenda and intention behind the action,” he said on the show.

He added, “If the CJ was only making a proposal or a request to the president to increase the number of justices of the Supreme Court to ensure the speedy determination of matters pending before the court, then, the issue of procedural lapses could have sufficed.

“But here is the CJ going beyond a request to the president for him to increase the number of justices of the Supreme Court which in itself is wrong. She actually goes beyond that to propose specific justices of her choosing that say things the President appoints.”