Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo
The Jasikan Circuit Court judge, Alfred Kwabena Asiedu, has been dismissed from the Judicial Service for his inappropriate conduct in the handling of a divorce case brought before him.
His dismissal followed a petition by Singari Diana Sadia to the Chief Justice on January 16, this year, accusing the judge of abuse of power, sexual exploitation, malicious prosecution, and impropriety.
In line with the disciplinary procedures of the Service, the petition was transferred to the Disciplinary Committee of the Judicial Council which investigated the allegations made against the judge.
Mr. Asiedu was invited to appear before the Disciplinary Committee, which after its investigations found the judge guilty of the allegations made against him.
“The Disciplinary Committee, after investigating the above-mentioned matter, found that you misconducted yourself as a judge as there was ample evidence that you were involved in an improper relationship with the Petitioner, who had a divorce case pending before you,” a letter signed by the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo indicated.
It said the Disciplinary Committee also, “established the allegation of abuse of power and malicious prosecution against you as you were found to have caused the arrest and prosecution of the Petitioner without justification.”
The Disciplinary Committee consequently recommended that Mr. Asiedu should be dismissed from the Judicial Service for his misconduct.
The report of the Disciplinary Committee was subsequently submitted to the Judicial Council, and at its 279th meeting held on October 25, 2023, the Council adopted the report of the Disciplinary Committee and decided that Mr. Asiedu’s actions constituted Stated Misbehaviour.
In accordance with Article 151 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, all members of the Judicial Council present at the said meeting, resolved that the judge should be removed from office for Stated Misbehaviour.
“You are therefore removed from Office as a Circuit Court Judge, with immediate effect. You are directed to hand over all official properties in your possession, including your official vehicle, dockets and record books to the Judicial Secretary forthwith,” the Chief Justice’s letter pointed out.
It further directed the Director of Human Resources of the Judicial Service to ensure that Mr. Asiedu’s name is deleted from the payroll of the Service with immediate effect.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak