Torkornoo Removed From Chief Justice Office After Recommendation by Investigative Committee
- Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has been removed from office after petitions seeking her ouster were filed
- The Chief Justice's removal was recommended by the committee looking into petitions against her
- The committee started probing Torkornoo based on the three petitions accusing her of misconduct and abuse of power
President John Mahama has sacked Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo from office.
This is after he received the report of the committee looking into petitions against her earlier on September 1.
Source: UGC
The committee heard evidence from 13 witnesses in favour of the petition.
Torkornoo also testified and was cross-examined. She called 12 witnesses to back her case.
The committee said it received about 10,000 pages of documentary exhibits from both sides. Each side was represented by four lawyers.
In a statement from the presidency, it was noted that the committee found that the grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) had been established and recommended her removal from office.
The committee chair, Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, assured that the probe was fair despite contentions from Torkornoo and other critics.
The Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has held that Torkornoo's removal from office was entirely grounded in constitutional provisions.
Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution governs the removal of Chief Justices in Ghana.
The other members of the committee were former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo; Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces; and Professor James Sefah Dzisah, an Associate Professor at the University of Ghana.
Background to Torkornoo's legal troubles
Mahama received five petitions in all for the removal of Torkonoo after accusations of misconduct and abuse of power.
In April, he made history by suspending her after the allegations against her were found to have substance.
Torkornoo, on May 21, unsuccessfully sued the committee set up by Mahama to investigate petitions seeking her removal from office.
Torkornoo also complained about the choice of Osu Castle for the hearings, which is a security zone.
She also noted that this was at odds with previous similar inquiries conducted at the Judicial Service’s Court Complex.
The suspended Chief Justice further raised concerns about the committee’s failure to provide the legal basis or criteria for establishing a substantial case against her.
Source: UGC
At one point, Torkornoo alleged that she had received several threats demanding her resignation following her suspension.
Despite the purported threats, Torkornoo remained determined to challenge the process and stressed that she would not resign amid her legal travails and possible impeachment.
Torkonoo chasing compensation from government
YEN.com.gh reported that Torkonoo sued the government for $10 million in compensation as part of the fight against her impeachment.
Torkonoo maintained that her suspension from office violated her rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Torkornoo also said her right to dignity and protection from arbitrary measures had also been violated.
Among other things, she is seeking a declaration that the suspension violated the Applicant's human rights to a fair hearing guaranteed by Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
