Secrecy in judicial removal process protects dignity — Deputy AG

Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, defended the secrecy in removing justices from superior courts. He stated that this confidentiality protects the integrity and reputation of those involved.

His comments followed concerns from Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh. Professor Prempeh is the Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana). He called for more transparency and reform of Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution. This article details how to remove superior court justices, including the Chief Justice.

Professor Prempeh's remarks came after Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo was suspended. This suspension has led to significant public and political debate.

On April 23, 2025, Dr. Srem-Sai spoke on the Citi Breakfast Show. He explained that Article 146's confidentiality is not meant to avoid scrutiny forever. Instead, it ensures fairness and protects individuals' dignity during proceedings.

He noted that privacy is necessary because some petition issues could be defamatory if made public. The framers of the constitution aimed to balance personal protection with public interest.

Dr. Srem-Sai emphasized that while proceedings are private, they do not prevent public disclosure afterward. He mentioned that in other cases, decisions have been made public after proceedings ended.