Former Deputy Attorney-General criticizes removal of Chief Justice Torkornoo
via GhanaWeb1 min read
Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, former Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, has criticized the government's decision to remove former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, calling the reasons weak and unconvincing. Speaking on JoyNews on June 16, 2026, he stated that the circumstances and allegations did not justify such a significant constitutional action. Tuah-Yeboah believes the outcome was deliberate, suggesting it was a planned political move by the ruling party to remove the Chief Justice on flimsy grounds. He emphasized that removing a Chief Justice requires strong and credible evidence to protect judicial independence, a standard he believes was not met. Former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo was removed by President John Dramani Mahama in September 2025, in accordance with Article 1469 of the 1992 Constitution. This followed a report from a committee, established under Article 1466 to investigate a petition by Daniel Ofori, which concluded that allegations of stated misbehaviour under Article 1461 were proven and recommended her removal. The President was constitutionally obliged to implement this recommendation.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Ghana's voluntary blood donation rate of 36 percent is below national and international targets, raising concerns about the country's safe blood supply. This issue was highlighted at the 2026 World Blood Donor Day commemoration in Accra. Dr. Shirley Owusu-Ofori, Chief Executive Officer of the National Blood Service, stated that Ghana collects about 200,000 units of blood annually, but the national need exceeds 300,000 units. The low voluntary donation rate, far from the 100 percent target, leads to an overreliance on family replacement donors, causing inconsistent supply and safety concerns. Dr. Fiona Braka, World Health Organisation Country Representative, noted that Ghana's blood donation rate is 6.6 per 1,000 population, below the WHO benchmark of 10 per 1,000 needed for an adequate supply. She emphasized that voluntary blood donation is the safest and most sustainable source. Professor Catherine Segbefia, Chairperson for the occasion, stressed that inadequate blood supply has severe human consequences, particularly for patients needing repeated transfusions. She called for a shift to regular voluntary blood donation to ensure a consistent supply.
John Agbetsi, a Ghanaian researcher at New Mexico State University, USA, has urged African governments to invest in advanced scientific systems and technologies for malaria control. He highlighted the significant health and economic burdens caused by mosquito-borne diseases in Africa, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to disrupt mosquito reproduction and reduce malaria transmission. Agbetsi's research revealed that mosquito legs play a role in detecting odors related to oviposition, the process by which female mosquitoes choose egg-laying sites. This finding suggests that gravid Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes can detect indole, a crucial oviposition chemical cue, even without antennae and maxillary palps. He stated that these findings necessitate the development of more effective attractants, traps, and oviposition-based vector control tools specifically targeting pregnant mosquitoes before they reproduce. Agbetsi stressed the urgency of these innovations, as traditional mosquito control methods face challenges like insecticide resistance and the spread of invasive malaria vectors such as Anopheles stephensi across Africa. He concluded that advancements in mosquito sensory biology are vital tools for saving lives and strengthening global malaria elimination efforts in countries where the disease continues to claim many lives.
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