The Acting CEO of the National Petroleum Authority, Lawyer Edudzi Tameklo, has urged the Bar Council of England and Wales to withdraw their letter requesting President Mahama to reinstate the suspended Chief Justice.
According to Edudzi Tameklo, the UK Bar Council must immediately and without delay withdraw your arrogant statement.
He emphasised that they should refrain from interfering with the court’s proceedings.
Speaking on TV3 New Day on August 18, 2025, Lawyer Edudzi Tameklo explained,” Everything the President has done so far has complied with the law. First, my brother Vincent was the first to go to court, and some of us have always raised concerns. For instance, you went to court, and statements were made; what was the ruling of the Supreme Court on the injunction? It was dismissed. Everything the President has done up to this point is to ensure that he respects the independence of the judiciary”.
“What would have been the position of the Bar Council of England and Wales or the Commonwealth Lawyers Association if the President were the petitioner? Imagine for a moment that the petition in this ongoing removal process was prepared by someone named John Dramani Mahama. What would they say? Due process, rule of law. In this case, the petitioners are completely distinct from the President. The President has a constitutional duty to perform, and it is a duty that rests solely on John Dramani Mahama in this republic today”, he added.
Lawyer Edudzi Tameklo further added, “Like Pontius Pilate, you must take certain actions. How is it that the Bar Council of England and Wales has not been able to cite any breaches of our laws—whether constitutional, statutory, or any rule of law? It’s quite unfortunate. I believe the Bar Council of England and Wales must use their own words, ‘immediately and without delay’ withdraw their arrogant statement and apologise to the good people of Ghana”.
“In life, when you find yourself in a hole and your intention is to get out, one thing you must avoid is digging deeper. We heard that the former suspended Chief Justice has gone to the ECOWAS court. What was the outcome of that? An interlocutory injunction was supposed to be filed. What happened? She wrote to the ECOWAS court requesting that the matter be heard during this vacation period. What was the result? She had been to the high court regarding human rights; what came of that? In fact, the court described the filings she made as a blatant abuse of process”, he stated.
Also, The brother of the late former President John Evans Atta Mills, Cadman Mills, has reacted to the Bar Council of England and Wales (BCEW) and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) over their demand for the reinstatement of suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkornoo.
According to Cadman Mills, the Bar Council of England and Wales (BCEW) and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) letter should have been returned as irreceivable for its unacceptably disrespectful tone.
In a post on X, in reaction to Dr Clement Apaak, the Deputy Education Minister’s strong-worded statement towards the UK Bar Council and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.
Cadman Mills wrote, “IMMEDIATELY AND WITHOUT DELAY” is a tad tautological, but must be expected from “whom that must be obeyed”. The letter should have been returned as “irreceivable” for its unacceptably disrespectful tone.
His comment follows the UK Bar Council, Commonwealth Lawyers, who have ordered President John Dramani Mahama to immediately and without delay, reinstate the suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
On Thursday, August 14, 2025, in a joint statement, the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association demanded the reinstatement of the Chief Justice.
Parts of their statement noted, “Immediately and without delay, reinstate the Chief Justice of Ghana to her Office, consistent with both the hitherto strong attachment to the rule of law demonstrated by Ghana and also, the constitutional duties incumbent upon them”.
They stated that the rules of practice must “include the time frame within which the investigating committee must conclude the disciplinary process against the Chief Justice, without any further delay and communicate that decision of that process to all concerned in upholding the rule of law in Ghana.”
According to the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the investigating committee permitting petitioners to use witnesses instead of attending themselves to answer questions on their petitions does not follow the rules and norms of due process.
They argued that the decision by the investigating committee to “deny the Chief Justice’s legal representative the respect required when attending the hearings of the investigating committee is contrary to the Latimer House Principles, which underline the duty to ensure fair and just process.”
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has replied to the UK Bar Council, Commonwealth Lawyers.
Dr Dominic Ayine, in a statement, emphasised that the suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s suspension will remain until the inquiry committee completes and submits its report to President Mahama.
Watch the video below:
“The Bar Council of England and Wales must withdraw their arrogant statement calling on the president to reinstate the Chief Justice”
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) August 18, 2025
-The Acting CEO of the National Petroleum Authority, Lawyer Edudzi Tameklo, has urged the Bar Council of England and Wales to withdraw their… pic.twitter.com/W0vpQjtNJH