Barker-Vormawor (L) has questioned the standard used in removing Torkornoo (R) as former CJ
Lawyer and social activist, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, has questioned the benchmark used by Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie in Article 146, in his dismissal of applications seeking the removal of the leadership of the Electoral Commission.
Reacting to the decision to dismiss petitions against the EC chairperson and her deputies, he argued that the standard applied raises concerns about consistency and fairness in constitutional processes.
Presidency yet to receive petition seeking EC chair’s removal – Kwakye Ofosu
He referenced the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo under Article 146 after a prima facie determination by the then Acting Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie.
According to him, if the same standard used to dismiss the petitions against the EC Chair had been applied in Justice Torkornoo’s case, she would have remained in office as Chief Justice and head of the Supreme Court.
“I have been thinking about the standard Baffoe-Bonnie used to determine the Article 146 petitions against the EC chair.
“If that same standard had been used for Araba, then she would still be CJ, and Baffoe-Bonnie won’t be where he is today,” he said in a Facebook post on February 19, 2026.
Barker-Vormawor argued that it would be only fair for Justice Torkornoo to be reinstated if CJ Baffoe Bonnie applies same principles he used in the recent dismissal of petitions against Jean Mensa and her deputies.
“If this is the standard, then I hope Araba is reinstated. Justice for Araba. Fair is fair,” he stated.
His comments follow a decision by President John Dramani Mahama to dismiss ten petitions that sought the removal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana, her deputies, and the Office of the Special Prosecutor on the advice of the Chief Justice.
The petitions targeted EC Chairperson Jean Mensa and her deputies, as well as Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.
They were referred to Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie for advice in line with constitutional procedure.
According to a statement issued by the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, on February 18, 2026, the President dismissed the petitions after the Chief Justice determined that no prima facie case had been established.
Under Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, the Chairperson and deputies of the Electoral Commission enjoy the same conditions of service as justices of the superior courts, with their removal guided by Article 146.
10 petitions to remove EC, OSP leadership dismissed – Presidency
The provision requires that a petition must first establish a prima facie case before further proceedings can be initiated.
The Presidency maintains that the constitutional threshold was not met in the petitions reviewed.
MAG/VPO
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Source:
www.ghanaweb.com