Alleged conflict of interest sparks call to dissolve Chief Justice inquiry team

A former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary aspirant, Alfred Ababio Kumi, has written to President John Dramani Mahama, asking him to dissolve the five-member committee set up to look into petitions for the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo. According to Mr. Kumi, the committee’s actions have raised serious concerns about fairness and trust in the process.

In his petition, dated just after the committee’s first meeting on May 15, 2025, Mr. Kumi claimed that two committee members Justices Gabriel Pwamang and Samuel Adibu-Asiedu were seen at dinner with Thaddeus Sory, the lawyer for one of the petitioners, on the same evening as the committee’s sitting. The dinner reportedly took place at Santoku Restaurant in the Airport Residential Area of Accra and was also attended by Supreme Court Justice Yonni Kulendi.

Kumi stated that the group was overheard discussing issues related to the case, which he believes is a conflict of interest and a serious breach of judicial conduct.

“The meeting between Justices Pwamang, Kulendi and Asiedu with Thaddeus Sory clearly has destroyed the integrity of the process and reduces public confidence in the process so far,” the petition reads.

Mr. Kumi further alleged that Justice Pwamang had ruled in favour of the same petitioner in the past, while Chief Justice Torkornoo had taken the opposite side in related cases. He also claimed that all three judges Pwamang, Adibu-Asiedu, and Kulendi were once interested in becoming Chief Justice and were reportedly disappointed when President Akufo-Addo chose Justice Torkornoo instead.

“Justice Pwamang is known to be interested in becoming the Chief Justice following your election as President… Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu is also on record to have actively lobbied to be the Chief Justice after the exit of Justice Anin Yeboah,” Kumi stated.

Mr. Kumi described their conduct as “deplorable” and said their actions risk turning the whole process into a “sham.” He urged President Mahama to act quickly to dissolve the committee and replace it with a fair and unbiased group.

So far, the Office of the President has not issued any official response.