The Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, has rejected a request from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to remove Justice Edward Twum from the Cecilia Dapaah case.
The OSP had filed a petition, arguing that Justice Twum had shown bias against the OSP and wanted him removed from all cases involving Cecilia Dapaah. However, the Chief Justice dismissed the petition.
The OSP in a post on X formerly Twitter disclosed that “By a letter dated 25 October 2023, the Judicial Secretary informed The Special Prosecutor that, the Chief Justice is unable to accede to the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) request for his lordship Justice Edward Twum to be recused and removed from all cases involving the OSP pending before him.”
The request by the OSP was grounded on the belief that Justice Edward Twum appears to be highly prejudiced against the OSP and the person of the Special Prosecutor.
Public Notice
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By a letter dated 25 October 2023, the Judicial Secretary informed The Special Prosecutor that, the Chief Justice is unable to accede to the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) request for his lordship Justice Edward Twum to be recused and removed from…— Office of the Special Prosecutor-Ghana (@ospghana) October 25, 2023
At the last adjourned date, lawyers for Ms Dapaah pushed for a hearing of the motion for confirmation of the freezing and seizure order filed by the OSP.
They intimated that they had heard in the media that OSP had withdrawn its request to the Chief Justice for the judge to be rescued and removed.
Justice Twum told the court that he had instructions to continue to hear the cases because OSP had withdrawn its request.
Prosecutors for OSP challenged this assertion by the judge insisting the request had not been drawn.
The Prosecutors also told the court, they had filed a certiorari application and a stay of proceedings against a ruling by the judge not to hear a supplementary affidavit by OSP deposing to fresh facts and evidence.
The Court therefore adjourned all cases involving Ms Dapaah by the OSP indefinitely pending further directive from the Chief Justice.