Assess My Work As Whole, Not As Justice Of The Supreme Court – Torkornoo Tells Parliament

Chief Justice Nominee Gertrude Torkornoo has told the Appointments Committee of Parliament to examine her work as a whole and not just when she became a Justice of the Supreme Court.

This was after the Minority side on the Committee decided not to vote on her today after the vetting until they get the reason for the Supreme Court order to Parliament to remove the name of Assin North Member of Parliament James Gyakye Quayson from the records of Parliament.

Bawku Central lawmaker Mahama Ayariga told her that they had a challenge with the apex court’s refusal to give the reasons for the orders.

During the vetting on Friday, May 26, Ayariag said “The Minority had a reservation because you participated in the decision involving James Quayson. You did not give a reason for your judgment so as we speak we don’t know the basis on which the court arrived at that conclusion. There is uncertainty among us as MPs knowing that our Supreme Court is Constitutional Court that should guide us as a country as to how to run public affairs.

[But] we have reached a negotiated position with our colleagues. We will not vote on you today after this hearing. When we finish today and when the Supreme Court gives the reason we will have another opportunity to now assess on the basis of the quality of the reasoning of the court and then we can take the debate.”

Prior to Mr Ayariga’s comment, the Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forosn said that they were waiting for the written judgment of the apex court on the Assin North Lammaker.

Dr Forsion said the Minority wanted to screen her, especially on that order given to Parliament but first needed to have copies of the judgment.

“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.

But answering them, Madam Torkornor said “The Supreme Court is not a court unless there are five or seven people.

“My answer is that I have given hundreds of judgments from High Court till now, it would be a great relief if I am assessed on my work as a whole, not the judgments of the Supreme Court.”

She added “Seven people are working together that is why very often, almost invariably every judgment that is given the reasons come out long after the orders.”