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Suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo has issued a strong rebuke of the proceedings launched to remove her from office, calling them a direct violation of constitutional principles and judicial fairness.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, June 25, Justice Torkornoo stated that the ongoing removal process “breaks every rule on how justice is delivered” in Ghana. Her remarks come amid national debate over the legality and transparency of the steps being taken under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.
“Unfortunately, every step of the removal process being undertaken against me is being done in a manner that breaks every rule on how justice is delivered in our country,” she said. “And this is why I find the need to draw the nation’s attention to the serious violations of the Constitution and the law in the process and the danger it holds for the development of the nation’s democracy.”
Justice Torkornoo’s suspension followed petitions alleging misconduct, which led to the formation of a five-member committee to investigate the claims. In line with Article 146(6), the committee’s work has been held in camera.
Efforts to challenge her suspension and halt the impeachment process in court have been unsuccessful. The Supreme Court dismissed four separate legal suits and injunction applications, including one filed by the Chief Justice herself.
Justice Torkornoo, appointed in June 2023 as the third female Chief Justice in Ghana’s history, now faces the unprecedented prospect of being removed from the position while still serving in office. She has vowed to challenge what she believes is an unjust and unconstitutional process to ensure the integrity of the judiciary is not compromised.
