President John Dramani Mahama has suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo pending the outcome of a formal inquiry into three separate petitions calling for her removal from office.
The suspension, made public on Tuesday, April 22, follows the establishment of a prima facie case and was executed in line with Article 146(6) of the 1992 Constitution.
After consulting the Council of State, the president triggered the constitutional process to determine the merit of the allegations brought against Ghana’s top judicial figure.
While the content of the petitions remains under wraps, the incident has sparked wide-ranging reactions among legal practitioners, civil society groups, and political commentators, all questioning what this means for judicial independence and the rule of law.
Chief Justice Torkornoo was served the petitions and afforded a ten-day window to present her defense, which she submitted on April 7. In response, a five-member committee was constituted to delve into the claims and make recommendations.
The committee members are:
Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Supreme Court Judge
Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Supreme Court Judge
Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Former Auditor-General
Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo, Ghana Armed Forces
Professor James Sefah Dzisah, Associate Professor, University of Ghana
The suspension, according to a statement signed by presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, takes immediate effect, as stipulated under Article 146(10) of the Constitution.
This investigation stands to shape the future of Ghana’s judiciary, testing both its resilience and the standards to which high-ranking judicial officials are held.
