The  government is preparing to introduce a constitutional amendment that would overhaul the process for removing judges from the country’s highest courts, including the Chief Justice, as part of a broader legal reform agenda.

Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, announced the plan Tuesday during the opening of Parliament’s second session. He said the proposed changes would aim to establish more robust and transparent procedures for the removal of justices from the High Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.

The amendment, which would touch entrenched provisions of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, would require both parliamentary backing and approval through a national referendum — a high bar that underscores the significance of the move.

“The president is committed to legislative clarity with transparency when it comes to the constitutional mechanics of the removal of justices of the superior courts,” Ayariga said, referring to President John Dramani Mahama’s reform agenda.

While the specific provisions have not yet been made public, Ayariga said the Attorney General is preparing a series of supporting legislative instruments. These include new regulations for judicial service conditions, court procedures, and the operations of key legal institutions such as the Economic and Organised Crime Office.

Among the expected measures is a dedicated set of rules governing the removal of Supreme Court justices — a step that could reshape the current system, which critics say lacks procedural clarity.

Mr. Ayariga stressed that the reforms are designed to reinforce both the independence and accountability of Ghana’s judiciary, as the country continues efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and improve rule of law.

Source:TheDotNews