CJ Denies OSP Request For Justice Twum Removal
The Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, has denied the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) the request for a new judge for its cases pending in court.
This was announced by the Office on Wednesday, October 25, 22023 in a brief statement.
It appears the letter was served on the OSP today.
“By a letter dated 25 October 2023, the Judicial Secretary informed The Special Prosecutor that, the Chief Justice is unable to accede to the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) request for his lordship Justice Edward Twum to be recused and removed from all cases involving the OSP pending before him,” the statement read.
The reason cited for the denial was not communicated in the statement.
Recusal
The Special Prosecutor (OSP) on October 12 petitioned the Chief Justice (CJ), Gertrude Torkornoo to remove Justice Twum from all his cases pending in court.
In a statement, the Office said the request is premised on a “well-founded” belief that Justice Edward Twum is prejudiced against Kissi Agyebeng, the country’s Special Prosecutor (SP) and his Office.
“The request is grounded on the OSP’s well-founded belief that Justice Edward Twum appears to be highly prejudiced against the OSP and the person of the Special Prosecutor.”
It affirmed, “Consequently, as it stands, the OSP would not and cannot be reasonably expected to be parties to proceedings before the said judge.”
On Wednesday, October 18, Justice Twum announced the OSP had withdrawn the petition in an open court but the claim was immediately rebutted.
“The Office of the Special Prosecutor has not withdrawn its request to the Chief Justice for the recusal and removal of his Lordship Justice Edward Twum from all cases pending before him involving the OSP,” a press statement from the Office said and urged the public to disregard it.
Encounter With Justice Twum
Justice Edward Twum presided over the High Court where the OSP was seeking an order to continue freezing the assets of the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah in August.
He refused to grant the order on the basis that the application was filed out of time; the OSP could not ascertain the owner of the assets; and the application was based on public sentiments.
The court then ordered the OSP to return some seized amounts of money including a ¢2.8 million and $590,000 found in the home of Cecilia Dapaah and unfreeze her bank accounts and investments.
The OSP in a statement on September 1 disagreed with the judge, however, it complied with the order.
After complying with the order on September 5, the OSP evoked its powers again to retake and freeze the said assets.
