Chief Justice Saga: Top Mahama Appointee Claims Gertrude Torkornoo Tried to Retire on Benefits
- The head of the Road Safety Authority, Abraham Amaliba, has made a new claim about former Chief Justice Getrude Torkornoo's sacking
- Torkornoo was also removed as a Supreme Court judge after petitions for her sacking were assessed by an investigative committee
- The committee found that Torkornoo had engaged in the unlawful expenditure of public funds
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The Director-General of the Road Safety Authority, Abraham Amaliba, claims former Chief Justice Getrude Torkornoo tried to negotiate her retirement with full entitlements before her sacking.
According to Amaliba, this effort was thwarted when she unexpectedly took her case to court.
Source: Facebook
Speaking on TV3, Amaliba claimed Torkornoo worked through two eminent persons in the country to help her.
"They came to plead that she should be allowed to retire with all her entitlements... somehow, when the discussion was ongoing, she went to court to fight her removal process.”
Amaliba was responding to a suggestion that Torkornoo should have been allowed to retire gracefully.
Torkornoo herself said she would not resign during her legal troubles.
Amaliba countered that Torkornoo herself had scuttled the initiative she began by subsequently filing a court action to fight her removal process.
President John Mahama sacked Torkornoo from office on September 1 after he received the report of the committee looking into petitions against her. She was also removed from the Supreme Court bench.
The committee recommended Torkornoo's removal because of unlawful expenditure of public funds, abuse of discretionary power, and interference in judicial appointments.
The committee heard evidence from 13 witnesses in favour of one of the five petitions against her.
The committee was chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, who assured that the probe was fair despite contentions from Torkornoo and other critics.
Amanda Clinton, a lawyer and legal analyst, noted to YEN.com.gh that there was cause for concern with the composition of the committee.
"Critics point to possible conflicts of interest—for instance, former Auditor-General Daniel Domelevo, who himself challenged his removal, had a role that some argue compromised the perception of impartiality. Even if lawful, the appearance of bias can undermine confidence in the process. Judicial independence requires not only fairness but also the perception of fairness."
What findings led to Torkornoo's removal?
The committee pushed for Torkornoo's removal because of unlawful expenditure of public funds, abuse of discretionary power, and interference in judicial appointments.
Source: Facebook
For the unlawful expenditure of public funds, she authorised the Judicial Service to cover travel expenses and per diem allowances for her husband and daughter during private holiday trips in 2023.
With respect to the grounds of abuse of discretionary power, her handling of the transfer violated Article 296(a) and (b) of the Constitution and amounted to misbehaviour.
Torkornoo sues for compensation from the government
YEN.com.gh reported that Torkornoo sued the government for $10 million in compensation as part of the fight against her impeachment.
Torkornoo believes her initial suspension from office violated her rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
She sought a declaration that the suspension violated her rights to a fair hearing.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
