Chief Justice fires Judge over inappropriate relationship between lady in divorce case.

Judge Alfred Kwabena Asiedu was discharged from the Judicial Service by Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, the Chief Justice of Ghana, for acting inappropriately in a divorce case he presided over at the Jasikan Circuit Court.

The dismissal comes in response to a petition filed on January 16 by Singari Diana Sadia, who accused Justice Asiedu of impropriety, malicious prosecution, abuse of power, and sexual exploitation.

After receiving the petition, the Chief Justice sent it to the Judiciary Service disciplinary commission for review.

Following a comprehensive investigation, the committee recommended that Justice Asiedu be dismissed, citing evidence of an improper relationship with the petitioner, who was the subject of an ongoing divorce lawsuit.

The committee also concluded that the accusations of malicious prosecution and misuse of authority were credible, charging the judge with ordering the petitioner's arrest and prosecution without cause.

Justice Asiedu received an invitation to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of the Judicial Council after going through the Service's disciplinary procedures.

At its 279th meeting on October 25, 2023, the Judicial Council adopted the committee's report that had been submitted to it. After reaching the conclusion that Justice Asiedu had engaged in Stated Misbehavior, the council removed him from office.

In a letter to Judge Asiedu, the Chief Justice instructed him to give the Judicial Secretary immediate possession of all official belongings, including his official car, dockets, and record books.

The dismissal is effective immediately, and the Director of Human Resources has been requested to ensure the prompt removal of Justice Asiedu's name from the Judicial Service payroll.

Below is the letter the Chief Justice wrote to the judge in question:

I write with reference to 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.

All members of the Judicial Council present at the meeting decided that you should be removed from office for stated misconduct in line with article 151 (1) of the 1992 Ghanaian Constitution.

As a result, you are immediately relieved of your duties as a Circuit Court Judge. You are instructed to immediately turn over to the Judicial Secretary all official belongings that you may have, such as your official car, dockets, and record books.

The Director of Human Resources is requested to make sure that your name is immediately removed off the Service's payroll by copy of this letter.