Supreme Court Judge nominee, Justice Kwaku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo has called for clearer legal definitions of “stated misbehavior” in the context of Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, suggesting that it is time for Ghana to develop regulations that provide clarity on the grounds for removing judges from office.
He made the proposal on Friday, July 20, during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee, where the question of judicial accountability and constitutional interpretation came up for scrutiny.
Responding to a direct question on whether “stated misbehavior” under Article 146 should be defined, Justice Ackaah-Boafo said:
“I think at this stage at this moment Article 146 has become a topical issue. Maybe it’s high time we have a C.I or regulations so some of these things can be properly defined and everybody will know the parameters of what these are.”
Article 146 outlines the procedures for removing judges of the Superior Courts, including the grounds of stated misbehavior or incompetence. However, the term “stated misbehavior” has long been a subject of legal debate due to its broad and undefined nature, often leaving interpretation to the discretion of constitutional authorities and judicial review panels.
Justice Ackaah-Boafo’s suggestion reflects growing calls for reforms within Ghana’s judicial accountability framework, especially amid heightened public interest in judicial conduct and the integrity of the bench.
His vetting marks the final stage of parliamentary scrutiny for the seven Court of Appeal judges recently nominated to the Supreme Court by President John Dramani Mahama.
