Kwaku Azar Reacts to Gertrude Torkornoo's Removal as Chief Justice
- US-based lawyer Kwaku Azar has reacted to the removal of Ghana’s Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo
- President John Mahama removed her from office after receiving a report from the Article 149 Committee
- Azar thanked the committee for its diligence and said the recommendations on Torkornoo will be respected
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A US-based Ghanaian lawyer, Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, has reacted to the removal of Ghana's Chief Justice, Gertrude Araba Torkornoo.
Torkornoo was removed from office by President John Mahama on Monday, September 1, 2025.
Source: UGC
This was after the president received the reports on the Article 149 Committee, probing the petitions against the former Chief Justice.
In a Facebook post, in reaction to Torkornoo's removal, Prof Stephen Asare, popularly known as Kwaku Azar, expressed gratitude to the committee for its work.
"GOGO thanks the Committee for its diligent work and, consistent with past practice, will respect its recommendations," he said.
Kwaku Azar's Facebook post about the Chief Justice decision is below:
13 witnesses testify against Gertrude Torkornoo
According to the committee, 13 witnesses testified in support the petition. Torkorno also testified, faced cross-examination, and presented 12 witnesses to strengthen her case.
In total, the committee said it reviewed about 10,000 pages of documentary evidence submitted by both parties, each represented by four lawyers.
A statement from the presidency confirmed that the committee had established grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) and recommended her removal from office.
The statement from the presidency about Torkornoo's removal is below:
Circumstances leading to Gertrude Torkornoo's removal
On April 22, 2025, YEN.com.gh reported that President Mahama had suspended Torkornoo from her role as Chief Justice of Ghana.
The suspension followed a prima facie case established by the Council of State in response to three petitions calling for her removal.
In a statement issued through his spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the President announced Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as the Acting Chief Justice.
The statement further disclosed that a five-member committee had been constituted to probe the allegations against the suspended Chief Justice.
The committee is composed of:
- Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, Justice of the Supreme Court - Chairman
- Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu, Justice of the Supreme Court - Member
- Daniel Yaw Domelevo (Former Auditor-General) - Member
- Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo (Ghana Armed Forces) - Member
- Professor James Sefah Dzisah (Associate Professor, University of Ghana) Member
Following this, parliamentarian Vincent Ekow Assafuah had filed a suit at the Supreme Court contesting the legality of the action against the Chief Justice.
However, the Supreme Court, led by Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, dismissed the case brought forward by the Old Tafo Member of Parliament.
Source: UGC
Gertrude Torkornoo files case at ECOWAS Court
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh also reported that Gertrude Torkornoo had filed a human rights case at the ECOWAS Court in Abuja over her recent suspension.
According to Deputy Attorney General, Srem Sai, she argued that she had been removed from office without due process, violating her constitutional rights.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
