Ama Governor Slams Torkornoo After Historic Sacking: "National Embarrassment"
- Elorm Ababio, aka Ama Governor, has reacted with glee to the sacking of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo from office
- Ama Governor, now a lawyer, was the centre of controversy after being denied a call to the Ghana Bar multiple times
- Torkonoo was removed from the position after petitions for her sacking were assessed by an investigative committee
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Ama Governor, known in private life as Elorm Ababio, has celebrated the sacking of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
Ababio, a lawyer, was notably denied a call to the bar on two occasions under somewhat controversial circumstances.
Source: Twitter
She was also among the protesters arrested and detained for weeks after activism against illegal mining.
In a series of tweets after Torkornoo's sacking on September 1, Ababio said it was ironic that the Chief Justice was removed on grounds of stated misbehaviour.
"Note to my ‘powerful’ enemies: Try me at risk of losing your one advantage. At the risk of national embarrassment. At the risk of making history as the first to be removed for the very ground you tried to paint a picture I was guilty of. You will fail massively."
Before becoming a lawyer in 2024, Ababio was denied a call to the Bar, most notably days before the enrolment ceremony on October 20, 2023.
The General Legal Council denied her because of her behaviour in public.
She was previously denied in 2022 after a petition accused her of bad conduct. There was a suggestion that it was because of her sexuality.
It is believed that Torkornoo justified the denial of Ababio during some public comments in 2023.
She was surprised that people don't understand the position of the Ghana Legal Council when they decide not to call some people to the Bar.
Why was Torkornoo removed as Chief Justice?
President John Mahama, in accordance with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, removed Torkornoo from office following the receipt of the report of the Committee of Inquiry to investigate a petition against her.
After examining the petition, extensive evidence, and testimonies, the Committee concluded that the allegations of stated misbehaviour were valid.
Legal analyst and Lawyer, Amanda Clinton, noted in comments to YEN.com.gh that, while this removal was constitutionally sound, there was a need for further substance in the matter.
"The removal of a Chief Justice may be constitutionally valid, but it must also pass the higher test of legitimacy in the eyes of citizens. Unless reforms are pursued, Ghana risks sliding into a pattern where judicial heads are treated as political appointments rather than constitutional guardians."
The committee described a rigorous process which included hearing evidence from 13 witnesses in favour of the petition.
Torkorno called 12 witnesses to back her case as she was cross-examined.
The committee received about 10,000 pages of documentary exhibits from both sides.
Mahama received five petitions in all for the removal of Torkonoo after accusations of misconduct and abuse of power.
The former CJ has sued the government for $10 million in compensation as part of the fight against her removal.
Kwaku Azar reacts to Torkornoo's removal
YEN.com.gh reported that Prof Stephen Asare, popularly known as Kwaku Azar, had thanked the committee for its work in a post online.
The US-based Ghanaian lawyer stated that he had also previously petitioned to have Gertrude Torkornoo removed as the Chief Justice.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
