In an unprecedented move in Ghana’s history, President John Mahama has suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo following the filing of three undisclosed petitions seeking her permanent removal from office.
This marks the first time a sitting chief justice has been suspended in the country. The nature of the allegations remains confidential, and the Chief Justice has yet to publicly respond.
Under Ghanaian law, chief justices enjoy security of tenure and may only be removed under specific grounds such as incompetence or misconduct. The suspension has sparked significant political and legal debate, with critics warning of its implications for judicial independence.
Former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, speaking to the BBC, condemned the move as politically motivated.
“I think it is a complete charade,” Dame said. “It’s the biggest assault on the judiciary in the nation’s history, the greatest assault on the independence of the judiciary under the constitutional dispensation of this country.”
Justice Torkornoo, Ghana’s third female chief justice, was nominated in 2023 by then-President Nana Akufo-Addo. She holds the critical role of overseeing the administration of justice in the country.
Earlier this year, she faced another petition for removal, which was dismissed by former President Akufo-Addo on the grounds that it contained “several deficiencies,” according to Reuters.
Initially, the latest petitions were not made available to the Chief Justice, prompting some legal experts to criticize the process as a violation of her right to a fair hearing. Following public concern, copies were subsequently shared with her, allowing her to submit a written response.
A five-member committee is currently reviewing the case. Justice Torkornoo will be invited to appear before the committee to address the petitions directly before a final decision is made on whether she will be removed from office.
