Two Additional Petitions Filed for Removal of Chief Justice Torkornoo
New filings raise the number of removal petitions to five, as the Chief Justice remains suspended pending investigation.
- Two new petitions have been filed seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo
- Chief Justice remains suspended
- Public debate intensifies
Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo is facing mounting pressure as two additional petitions have been submitted to the Office of the President, calling for her removal from office.
These new filings bring the total number of removal petitions against her to five, intensifying the legal and political turmoil surrounding Ghana’s judiciary.
Although the identities of the latest petitioners remain undisclosed, and the contents of all five petitions are sealed under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, insiders indicate that they include allegations of misconduct and abuse of power.
This latest development follows President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to suspend Chief Justice Torkornoo on April 22, 2025. The suspension came after a committee determined that the initial trio of petitions presented a prima facie case, prompting formal action in consultation with the Council of State as mandated by Article 146(6).
The Chief Justice had earlier been given a 10-day period to respond to the allegations, which she fulfilled on April 7. Her response did not prevent the process from advancing to the next phase—an independent investigation.
Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the most senior justice on the Supreme Court, has now stepped in as acting Chief Justice per Article 144(6), pending the outcome of a full inquiry by a yet-to-be-named five-member committee.
Reactions to these developments have been swift and divisive. Critics, including opposition figures and legal professionals, suggest the actions against the Chief Justice are politically motivated, raising fears of a potential “judicial capture.” Others maintain that the constitutional process is being followed appropriately and that due process must take its course.
Notably, legal scholar Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh of CDD-Ghana has called for greater transparency, urging that the specifics of the allegations and outcomes of the inquiry be made public to safeguard trust in the judiciary.
As the investigation unfolds, the nation watches closely, aware that the final outcome could significantly impact the balance and independence of Ghana’s judicial system.
