A petition for the removal of Mr Justice Dominic Dennis Adjei as an Appeal Court judge for corruption has been dismissed.
President John Dramani Mahama has endorsed the recommendation of the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina Wood, dismissing the petition as it “does not disclose a prima facie case”.
A March 11, 2016 letter, signed by Mr Kwesi Quartey, the Secretary to the President, said: “This is to inform you that His Excellency the President has endorsed your determination and recommendation to the effect that the petition against Mr Justice Dominic Dennis Adjei be dismissed.’’
The letter, which was addressed to the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and the Minister of Communications and copied to the Vice-President and the Chief of Staff, was in response to an earlier letter sent by Mrs Justice Wood on February 19, 2016 to inform the President about her recommendation for the petition to be dismissed.
According to the Chief Justice, the petition by a private legal practitioner, Mr I.B. Akwantey, for the dismissal of Mr Justice Adjei lacked basis because it failed to disclose a prima facie case against the Appeal Court justice.
Petition
Mr Akwantey petitioned President Mahama to remove Mr Justice Adjei from office for allegedly collecting money from judges of the lower bench for promotion and opportunities to study abroad.
According to the petitioner, in one instance, Mr Justice Adjei was said to have collected GH¢2,000 from Mr Benjamin Osei, a Circuit Court judge, and promised to add Mr Osei’s name to a promotion list which he (Justice Adjei) compiled.
Mr Akwantey added that Mr Justice Adjei had told Mr Osei that he had finished compiling the list and mentioned that Mr Kwame Osei Gyamfi of the Goaso Circuit Court had been included.
After taking the money, he said, Mr Justice Adjei allegedly advised Mr Osei to go and see one Mr Bernard Bentil of the Chief Justice’s Secretariat.
“Mr Justice Adjei is reported to have described Mr Bentil as the ‘Chief of Staff' at the Chief Justice’s Secretariat.
“According to Mr Osei, he went to see Mr Bentil and, between the two of them, an amount of GH¢4,000 was taken from Mr Osei,” the petition said.
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