Alfred Kwabena Asiedu, a judge on the Jasikan Circuit Court, has been discharged from the Judicial Service by Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, Chief Justice, due to his unprofessional behaviour in a divorce case he decided.
On January 16, Singari Diana Sadia filed a petition with the Chief Justice, charging the judge with impropriety, malicious prosecution, abuse of office, and sexual exploitation.
The petition was subsequently forwarded to the Judiciary Service disciplinary committee, which looked into it and concluded that the judge’s misconduct called for his or her removal.
Thus, the judge has been instructed in writing by the Chief Justice to turn over to the Judicial Secretary any official belongings that are in his custody, such as his official car, dockets, and record books.
Below is the letter the Chief Justice wrote to the judge in question:
I write concerning the petition of abuse of power, sexual exploitation, malicious prosecution, and impropriety against you, received from one Singari Diana Sadia, dated 16th January 2023.
In line with the Disciplinary Procedures of the Service, you were invited to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the Judicial Council, which had been mandated to investigate the allegations against you
The Disciplinary Committee, after investigating the above-mentioned matter, found that you misconducted yourself as a Judge as there was ample evidence that you were involved in an improper relationship with the Petitioner, who had a Divorce case pending before you. The Disciplinary Committee also established the allegation of abuse of power and malicious prosecution against you as you were found to have caused the arrest and prosecution of the Petitioner without justification. The Disciplinary Committee consequently recommended that you should be dismissed.
The report of the Disciplinary Committee was subsequently submitted to the Judicial Council, and at its 279th meeting held on 25th October 2023, the Council adopted the report of the Disciplinary Committee and decided that your above-stated actions constituted Stated Misbehaviour.
In accordance with article 151 (1) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, all members of the Judicial Council present at the said meeting, resolved that you should be removed from office for Stated Misbehaviour.
You are therefore removed from Office as a Circuit Court Judge, with immediate effect. You are directed to hand over all official properties in your possession, including your official vehicle, Dockets and Record Books to the Judicial Secretary forthwith.
By a copy of this letter, the Director of Human Resources is requested to ensure that your name is deleted from the payroll of the Service with immediate effect.
