President John Mahama of Ghana has suspended the nation’s Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, as an investigation begins into serious allegations brought against her. This unprecedented decision marks the first time a sitting Chief Justice in Ghana has been suspended from office.
The suspension follows the submission of three confidential petitions calling for her permanent removal. While the specific contents of these petitions remain undisclosed, they are reported to be based on claims of incompetence and misconduct — the only legal grounds on which a Chief Justice can be dismissed, due to the constitutional protections associated with the role.
Ms Torkornoo, who was appointed in 2023 as Ghana’s third female Chief Justice by then-President Nana Akufo-Addo, has not yet issued a public statement regarding the situation.
The move has been widely criticised, including by former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame. “I think it is a complete charade,” he told the BBC. “It’s the biggest assault on the judiciary in the nation’s history — the greatest assault on the independence of the judiciary under our constitutional dispensation.”
Earlier this year, Ms Torkornoo faced a similar challenge to her position, when a previous petition was dismissed by former President Akufo-Addo as “deficient.”
Concerns have also been raised about due process in the current case, as the initial petitions were reportedly withheld from the Chief Justice, prompting legal experts to question whether her right to a fair hearing was respected. The documents have since been shared with her, and she has been invited to submit a written response.
A five-member committee has been formed to oversee the matter, and Ms Torkornoo is expected to provide further evidence and clarification before any final decision on her removal is made.