Serious questions are being raised about the propriety of a recent public interaction between prominent lawyer Thaddeus Sory and three Supreme Court justices, one of whom is a member of the committee investigating petitions for the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
The concern stems from a widely circulated CCTV video showing Mr. Sory, who is legal counsel for the petitioners seeking the Chief Justice’s removal, engaging with Justices of the Supreme Court in a setting that appears to be a restaurant.
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Among the justices captured in the footage is Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu—one of the key members of the investigative committee currently reviewing the serious allegations against Chief Justice Torkornoo.
The footage, which has ignited unease and speculation among sections of the public and legal fraternity, shows the three Justices—Yoni Kulendi, Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, and Henry Anthony Coffie—entering what sources say is a public restaurant. The trio walks past a table occupied by two men.
While Justices Adibu-Asiedu and Coffie proceed to sit at a different table, Justice Kulendi pauses briefly to exchange pleasantries with the two men at the first table.
Justice Kulendi is seen greeting businessman Kotei Dzani before engaging warmly—through a handshake and hug—with the second man, believed to be Thaddeus Sory.
What raises eyebrows is what follows: Sory rises from his table and walks over to where Justices Adibu-Asiedu and Coffie have settled.
He proceeds to greet both men—hugging Justice Coffie, shaking his hand, and then shaking hands with Justice Adibu-Asiedu before bowing respectfully to him.
The interaction, while brief and cordial, raises concerns in light of the roles these individuals currently occupy in a highly sensitive matter.
The petitions before the committee allege misconduct on the part of Chief Justice Torkornoo, and the outcome could have serious implications for Ghana’s judiciary.
Notably, the video does not have audio, leaving viewers unable to discern what was said during the greetings or whether the conversation had anything to do with the ongoing investigation.
However, critics are calling for an explanation, with some urging the Judicial Council to examine the footage and determine whether any ethical lines were crossed.
The concern is amplified by the fact that Justice Adibu-Asiedu is not just a sitting Supreme Court Justice but a key player in the internal mechanisms tasked with evaluating whether the Chief Justice should remain in office.
Public confidence in such processes relies heavily on the appearance and reality of objectivity, distance, and fairness.
President John Mahama has been petitioned to dissolve the committee investigating the petitions against Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
The petition, filed by Alfred Ababio Kumi, alleges attempts to improperly influence the investigative process.
In a response issued before the video surfaced, Thaddeus Sory—counsel for the petitioners—strongly rejected the claims, describing them as a “monstrous lie.”
However, following the release of the footage, pressure is mounting for the incident to be thoroughly investigated.
This development adds another layer of controversy to an already fraught situation.
