Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo
In a significant development, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, the Chief Justice of Ghana, has dismissed Judge Alfred Kwambena Asiedu from the Judicial Service.
The judge in question was found guilty of inappropriate conduct during a divorce case he presided over at the Jasikan Circuit Court.
The dismissal follows a petition lodged by Singari Diana Sadia on January 16, in which the judge was accused of abuse of power, sexual exploitation, malicious prosecution, and impropriety. Upon receiving the complaint, the Chief Justice transferred the case to the disciplinary committee of the Judiciary Service for investigation.
After careful examination of the evidence, the disciplinary committee concluded that the judge had indeed misbehaved, warranting his dismissal. Consequently, Chief Justice Torkornoo issued a letter directing Judge Asiedu to surrender all official properties, including his official vehicle, dockets, and record books, to the Judicial Secretary.
In her letter, the Chief Justice stated that the Disciplinary Committee’s investigation substantiated allegations of an improper relationship between Judge Asiedu and the petitioner. The committee also found evidence of abuse of power and malicious prosecution, as the judge had instigated the arrest and prosecution of Singari Diana Sadia without justification.
The report of the Disciplinary Committee was then presented to the Judicial Council, who, at their 279th meeting on October 25, 2023, adopted the committee’s findings. It was determined that Judge Asiedu’s conduct constituted stated misbehavior, leading to his removal from office as a Circuit Court Judge.
Per the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, in accordance with Article 151 (1), the Judicial Council, with the support of all members present, decided to dismiss Judge Asiedu for his inappropriate actions.
The Chief Justice’s letter also instructed the Director of Human Resources to remove Judge Asiedu’s name from the Judicial Service’s payroll immediately.
The dismissal emphasizes the Judiciary’s commitment to upholding ethical standards and maintaining public trust. It sends a clear message that misconduct and inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated within the Ghanaian judicial system.
By Vincent Kubi