In an unprecedented move, Ghanaian President John Mahama has suspended the country’s Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, marking the first time in Ghana’s history that a sitting Chief Justice has been suspended from office.
The suspension comes amidst an ongoing investigation triggered by three confidential petitions that call for her permanent removal. While the specific allegations remain undisclosed, the move has sparked widespread debate over the independence of Ghana’s judiciary.
Chief Justices in Ghana enjoy constitutional security of tenure, meaning they can only be removed under serious conditions such as gross misconduct or incompetence. Justice Torkornoo, Ghana’s third female Chief Justice, was appointed in 2023 by former President Nana Akufo-Addo and has been responsible for overseeing the administration of justice in the country.
The suspension has drawn sharp criticism from legal experts and political figures. Ghana’s former Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, condemned the action in a BBC interview, describing it as “the biggest assault on the independence of the judiciary in the nation’s history.”
Earlier this year, a petition for her removal was dismissed by former President Akufo-Addo due to “several deficiencies.” However, the three recent petitions have now been accepted for review. Initially, copies of the petitions were not shared with Justice Torkornoo, raising concerns about her right to a fair hearing. Legal advocates called this a breach of due process. The documents have since been provided to her, and she has been allowed to respond privately and in writing.
Justice Torkornoo is expected to appear before a five-member investigative committee, where she will be given another opportunity to defend herself before a final decision is made.
As Ghana watches closely, this case could redefine the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches in one of West Africa’s most stable democracies.
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