{
  "id": 5104851,
  "title": "Chief Justice removal process open to political manipulation – IEA warns",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/chief-justice-removal-process-open-to-political-manipulation-iea-warns",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T14:40:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/chief-justice-removal-process-open-to-political-manipulation-iea-warns/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has urged a revision of Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution to strengthen the process for removing Superior Court judges, especially the Chief Justice. In a constitutional review statement released on September 2, 2026, the IEA criticized the existing provisions, stating they lacked specificity and were prone to political manipulation. The IEA contends that the current provisions are insufficient and susceptible to political interference in how removal petitions should be handled.\n\nThe Constitution Review Committee, under the chairmanship of Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, proposed a more structured procedure for the removal process. This includes guidelines for petition submission, preliminary determination of a prima facie case, suspension of judges, establishment of tribunals, and timelines for completing proceedings. While the government acknowledges the need for greater clarity and timeliness, it prefers to address these issues through subsidiary legislation or procedural rules under the existing constitutional framework. However, the IEA argues that these safeguards should be directly incorporated into the Constitution.\n\nThe IEA suggests looking at the procedures outlined in Article 168 of Kenya's Constitution, which establishes an independent Judicial Service Commission responsible for the removal process. This includes detailed procedures for handling cases against judges. The IEA also proposes an intermediate disciplinary system for misconduct that warrants a formal sanction but does not necessitate removal from office. Such reforms, according to the IEA, would enhance transparency, limit opportunities for political influence, and safeguard the independence of the judiciary.",
  "summary": "The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has called for a revision of Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, arguing that the existing process for removing Superior Court judges, particularly the Chief Justice, is vulnerable to political manipulation.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Straits Times",
        "title": "Rule of law must adapt as society’s values, circumstances evolve: Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/rule-of-law-must-adapt-as-societys-values-circumstances-evolve-chief",
        "published": "2026-09-02T13:50:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Cases don’t go on leave – Chief Justice defends judges sitting during legal vacation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/cases-dont-go-on-leave-chief-justice-defends-judges-sitting-during",
        "published": "2026-09-02T15:12:20.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "‘Cases don’t go on leave’ – Chief Justice defends judges sitting during legal vacation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/cases-dont-go-on-leave-chief-justice-defends-judges-sitting-during-5134732",
        "published": "2026-09-02T17:11:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}