According to Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo’s vetting will be centered on her decisions since joining the Supreme Court last year.
Dr. Ato Forson claimed that the Minority intended to scrutinize her, particularly in light of the Supreme Court’s directive to Parliament to strike James Gyakye Quayson’s name from the records, but the minority lacked a documented copy of the ruling.
The minority leader stated that they needed copies of that specific ruling so they could interview her about it, but they did not have them as of the Friday, May 26 vetting time.
“We will be focusing on her judgment on her running from the time she went to the Supreme court,” the Ajumako Enyan Essiam lawmaker said during the Appointments Committee sitting on Friday to screen the nominee.
In April, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo nominated her. The President stated that she was nominated to fill any vacancies that could arise when Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, who retired on May 24, retired.
If confirmed, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who comes from Winneba in the Central Region, will follow Justices Georgina Theodora Wood and Sophia Akuffo as the third female Chief Justice in Ghana’s history.
Prior to that, President Akufo-Addo had pleaded with Speaker of the House, Alban Bagbin to expedite the selection of Justice Gertrude Torkornoo as Chief Justice.
Chief Justice Nominee Assures To Resolve JUSAG Strike
Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, a candidate for Chief Justice, stated that efforts are being made to address the problems that have led to the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana’s (JUSAG) strike.
She stated that many parties, including the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the President, are involved in the process of addressing their difficulties, while being vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on May 26. She informed the committee that “the process is very much ONgoing, yesterday there was a meeting.”
The JUSAG announced an indefinite strike that began on May 24, due to the government’s refusal to approve reviewed pay and other allowances.
They claimed they had endured enough suffering and were unable to cope with the challenging economic climate.
“Colleagues may recall that the Government of Ghana introduced the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) in July 2022 for all public sector workers including staff of the Judicial Service due to the adverse economic condition the country was and is still undergoing.
“JUSAG submitted its proposal for review of salaries for 2023-2024 on 31st October 2022 to the Judicial Council for consideration in its advice to the President for determination in accordance Article 149 and 158(2) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.”
JUSAG
They asserted that they had endured enough suffering and could no longer take it. They claimed, “An empty sack cannot stand upright.”
“The National Executive Council of JUSAG, upon consultations with the Judicial Service Ladies Association of Ghana (JUSAG), Senior Staff Association (SSAJUG), Driver Association, Finance Staff Association, and all stakeholders who matter, HEREBY DECLARE AN INDEFINITE STRIKE.”
JUSAG
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