[ 2017-05-08 ]

Who replaces Georgina Wood? Mpiani cool with Dotse or Yeboah
With few days left for the Chief Justice Georgina
Theodora Wood to bow out, a host of influential
persons are jostling and lobbying for their
preferred justices to be appointed to the high
office of Ghana's judiciary.

Former Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpiani, insists the
jostling notwithstanding, it remains the
president's prerogative to appoint a Chief Justice
in consultation with the Council of State.

Two persons, Justices Jones Dotse and Anin Yeboah
appear to be in pole position for the high office
but only one can and may get the nod.

Having studied their profiles and contributions to
Ghana's judiciary, Kwadwo Mpiani, says if either
of them is picked for the top job, he will be
happy.

Article 144 (1) of the 1992 Constitution states:
"The Chief Justice shall be appointed by the
President acting in consultation with the Council
of State and with the approval of Parliament."

A former police prosecution officer, Georgina
Theodora Wood was appointed in 2002, by the
erstwhile Kufuor administration and has since
endeared herself despite vehement criticisms from
some supporters of the opposition National
Democratic Congress.

She has been ruthless in the fight against
corruption and has on many occasions let down the
gavel heavily on corrupt judges.

In 2015, some 34 judges in the lower and high
courts were named in a judicial bribery scandal
that shocked the country.

Some of the judges were captured on video trading
justice for money, yam, goats and other material
objects.

A committee was constituted by the Chief Justice
which found the named justices guilty and were
summarily dismissed on the orders of the
president.

By law, the power to dismiss rests on the
president.

Her committee also investigated the chairperson of
the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative
Justice (CHRAJ) Laureta Lamptey against
whom abuse of office and allegations of
squandering of state funds had been made.

The committee found her guilty, recommended her
dismissal and the president approved same.

After almost 15 years of service Mrs Wood is set
for retirement and the race for the next Chief
Justice has begun in earnest.

In eulogizing the attributes of the outgoing Chief
Justice, Kwadwo Mpiani, said she was so qualified
for the position that none spoke against her
appointment; those who spoke, spoke for her.

Kwadwo Mpiani says president Nana Akufo-Addo will
no doubt consult widely before sending his
proposal for a new Chief Justice to the Council of
State for advice and subsequent approval by
Parliament.

Source - Myjoyonline.com

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