The walls of Ghana’s revered judiciary are crumbling under the weight of explosive new allegations against the office of the Chief Justice.
Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo, (recently suspended) stands accused of another scandalous web of corruption and flagrant conflict of interest, with her own daughters at the heart of the illicit dealings this time.
Documents obtained by The New Republic (TNR) lay bare a shocking tale: CJ Torkornoo allegedly greenlighted a fat GHS 456,456.00 contract to a company linked directly to her offspring – Design Three Seven Limited.
The beneficiary? None other than Edem Sarah Amiga Torkornoo, reportedly one of her daughters, serving as the firm’s Director of Marketing, alongside Seyram Frances Afi Torkornoo, the Managing Director.
This colossal sum was for the “interior and furniture design services” of judicial service libraries and the judges’ lounge. But here’s the kicker: This lucrative deal was reportedly awarded through a restrictive bidding process, conveniently ensuring that only her daughters’ company was in the running
Design Three Seven Limited, incorporated barely five years ago on April 15, 2019, seemingly walked straight into this cash cow, bypassing the transparency and fairness demanded of public contracts.
Insiders are seething, questioning how a project of this magnitude escaped a rigorous tender process. The answer, according to the bombshell documents, is chillingly simple: The Chief Justice’s “vested interest” dictated it.
This brazen act of cronyism isn’t just unethical; it’s a direct assault on the public purse! Ghanaians are rightly demanding answers: How many more millions could have been saved if this contract had been subjected to open, competitive bidding?
Taxpayers’ money, it appears, was funneled directly into the pockets of the CJ’s family, prioritizing private gain over national interest.
The outrage deepens with the revelation that Mr. Austin Evans Kanyoke, an officer at the Public Procurement Authority – the very body charged with safeguarding public contracts – allegedly rubber-stamped this dubious deal with NO DUE DILIGENCE.
Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution explicitly forbids public officers from engaging in conflicts of interest. Yet, the Chief Justice, the very custodian of Ghana’s laws, stands accused of trampling on the constitutional duties she swore to uphold.
This isn’t just a misstep; it’s a betrayal of monumental proportions
This latest scandal follows earlier shocking reports of CJ Torkornoo allegedly doling out unlawful per diem payments to her husband and daughter. The pattern is clear: a blatant disregard for accountability and an alarming appetite for personal enrichment at the expense of the state.
Adding fuel to the fire, multiple petitions – over seven, in fact – are reportedly languishing at the Supreme Court against the Chief Justice herself.
These petitions, yet to be fully disclosed, encompass a litany of alleged offenses: procurement violations, excessive rent allowances for judges, and the scandalous improper per diem payments for her husband.
The integrity of our judiciary is at stake. The Chief Justice must be held accountable for these grave allegations. The people deserve the truth, and they deserve it now! The long arm of the law, it seems, needs to reach its very top echelons.