Private legal practitioner Thaddeus Sory says Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin played a major role in his client’s decision to file a petition seeking the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkonoo.
He explained that the petition included a significant count that referenced the Minority Leader and highlighted actions that formed part of the basis of the case.
Mr. Sory said the Effutu MP set an unusual record by securing a full Supreme Court panel, led by Justice Torkonoo, within two hours to grant orders that no court in any common law jurisdiction would ordinarily approve under the type of application he filed.
According to him, the conduct of the Minority Leader raised concerns not only for the former Chief Justice but also for Justice Gabriel Pwamang, who chaired the committee that recommended her removal.
He noted that the treatment of the senior justice added to the broader issues, explaining that Justice Pwamang’s report itself raised questions he had previously pointed out.
Mr. Sory said these matters became clearer as proceedings continued. He recalled several people who knew both Mr. Afenyo-Markin and Justice Torkonoo approaching him privately and questioning why he did not realise that “that is his sister,” claiming the two were from the same area.
He said he was further informed that when Justice Torkonoo’s father passed away, the Minority Leader hosted her visitors—information he said came from individuals who witnessed it.
He stated that if he had appeared at the next sitting, he would have raised an objection directly against the former Chief Justice. He said he would have told her that the back-and-forth and tension surrounding the matter stemmed from the fact that someone close to her—Mr. Afenyo-Markin—was the plaintiff.
Mr. Sory added that new information now suggests that certain services within the Judicial Service are linked to the Minority Leader.
He alleged that Mr. Afenyo-Markin is involved in providing those services and commercially benefits from them, saying the profits involved are significant.
For this reason, he believes the Minority Leader is attempting to frame the nomination process of Chief Justice Baffoe Bonnie as a national issue.
He insisted that the matter had nothing to do with the minority’s collective stance in Parliament. According to him, Mr. Afenyo-Markin presented a narrative to his colleagues to convince them to adopt a unified position.
He argued that the facts indicate the Minority Leader has a personal interest in the former Chief Justice, which is why “he is crying louder than every other person.” As he put it, “The facts we have show that you have an interest in her being there.”
Mr. Sory also questioned the entire structure of the approval process for judicial appointees.
He said Parliament should reconsider the idea of prior approval, arguing that the Constitution states “prior approval of Parliament,” not “vetting.”
He suggested a new approach in which Parliament thoroughly examines a nominee’s CV and background checks. In his view, vetting should only be conducted when specific areas require clarification; otherwise, Parliament should use acclamation. He added that if an appointee fails to perform, the appointing authority has the power to remove them.
He concluded that the current format places nominees under unnecessary pressure and prolongs a process he believes could be far simpler.
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