Former Deputy Attorney-General, Diana Asonaba Dapaah, has voiced strong reservations about the Council of State’s decision to establish a prima facie case against Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

Her comments come in the wake of leaked documents reportedly submitted by private citizen Daniel Ofori, Senior Police Officer Ayamga Akolgo, and the civic advocacy group Shining Stars of Ghana.

The trio are said to have petitioned President John Mahama, seeking the Chief Justice’s removal from office.

Appearing on Channel One TV on Wednesday, 23 April, Ms Dapaah referenced portions of the petitions, which accuse the Chief Justice of breaching principles of natural justice in a recent, high-profile Supreme Court judgment.

She contended that the Council of State’s basis for proceeding with the case was deeply flawed.

Dapaah expressed particular disquiet over the nature of the allegations and the logic employed to advance the case.

“The alleged petition by the saviour group, where the basis of all the complaints emanates from a decision by the Supreme Court presided over by the Honourable Chief Justice.

"For me, even looking at it, that such a petition is a ground for making a prima facie determination, I feel troubled for the other judges who sat on the panel,” she remarked.

She also cast doubt on the credibility of a petition submitted by a police officer who also practises as a lawyer, citing the unorthodox nature of the evidence relied upon.

“Similar to the one by the police officer who is also a lawyer. He then allegedly is the one who attaches a scintilla of evidence from a news platform called the Law Platform as a basis for saying that the CJ sitting on the panel unilaterally caused his arrest,” she noted.

Ms Dapaah concluded by outrightly rejecting the Council’s findings, describing the process as legally unsound.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the finding of a prima facie case is unconstitutional and was wrong,” she asserted.