Chief Justice Torkornoo Faces Petition for Removal: Committee Begins Inquiry
In an unprecedented development within Ghana’s judicial system the identities behind three petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo have been revealed, following her recent suspension by President John Dramani Mahama. This unfolding story has sparked nationwide discussions about judicial accountability, constitutional process, and the rule of law.
The petitioners have been named as Kingsley Agyei, convener of the civil society group Shining Stars of Ghana; ACP Ayamga Yakubu Akolgo, a lawyer and Assistant Commissioner of Police; and Daniel Ofori a private citizen. Their joint petition invokes Article 146(1) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which provides for the removal of a Justice of the Superior Court on grounds of stated misbehaviour or incompetence or “inability to perform the functions of his office arising from infirmity of body or mind.
According to the petitioners, the Chief Justice has allegedly demonstrated conduct unbecoming of her office and shown lapses in leadership they claim have eroded public confidence in the judiciary. They argue that her continued stay in office threatens the credibility of the judicial system and, therefore, seek her removal in accordance with constitutional provisions.
While the full content of the petitions and the Chief Justice’s written responses have reportedly surfaced in the public domain, legal experts have cautioned that such details are meant to remain confidential under Article 146, which mandates that all proceedings be held in camera (in private) to protect the integrity of the process and the rights of all involved.
In response to the petitions, President Mahama, exercising his constitutional mandate, has constituted a five-member committee to investigate the allegations. The committee is chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, a sitting Justice of the Supreme Court, with fellow Supreme Court Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu serving alongside him. The other members include renowned anti-corruption advocate and former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo; Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces; and Professor James Sefah Dzisah, a respected academic at the University of Ghana.
Though the committee has begun its preliminary work, no official timeline has been announced for the completion of the inquiry.
Legal analysts say the outcome of this inquiry will be closely watched both locally and internationally, as it will test Ghana’s democratic institutions and their ability to handle sensitive matters involving high-ranking public officials.
For now, the country awaits the outcome of the committee’s deliberations, hoping that the process will be guided by fairness, due diligence, and fidelity to the Constitution.