Key Findings and Reasons Behind Gertrude Torkornoo's Removal as Chief Justice
- President John Mahama has dismissed Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo on recommendation of an investigative committee
- The five-member committee found her guilty of alleged misbehaviour, such as the abuse of power and misuse of public funds
- Ghanaian Judge Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has been appointed as Acting Chief Justice pending further developments
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President John Mahama has dismissed Gertrude Araba Torkornoo as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana.
The decision follows recommendations from a five-member committee established under Article 149 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
Source: UGC
The process for Torkornoo's dismissal began after a petition dated March 17, 2025, was submitted to the President by a Ghanaian citizen, Daniel Ofori, who sought her removal on grounds of misconduct and stated misbehaviour.
Following this, President Mahama suspended her after a prima facie case was established by the Council of State in response to three petitions calling for her removal.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the President named Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as the Acting Chief Justice.
The statement also showed that a five-member committee had been formed to investigate 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
Read the post about Torkornoo's dismissal as Chief Justice below:
Finding of the committee's report against Torkornoo
After a comprehensive inquiry, the committee found that Justice Torkornoo's actions amounted to ‘stated misbehaviour’ as defined under Article 146(1).
The committee recommended Gertrude Torkornoo's removal on three grounds: unlawful expenditure of public funds, abuse of discretionary power, and interference in judicial appointments.
On the stated grounds of unlawful expenditure of public funds, the committee determined that the Chief Justice had authorised the Judicial Service to cover travel expenses and per diem allowances for her husband and daughter during private holiday trips in 2023, an act the report described as a ‘reckless and avoidable misuse of public funds’.
With respect to the grounds of abuse of discretionary power, the committee concluded that her handling of Mr Baiden’s transfer violated Article 296 (a) and (b) of the Constitution and amounted to misbehaviour.
For the grounds of interference in judicial appointments, the committee further observed that she attempted to sidestep the established procedure for nominating Supreme Court Justices, in disregard of the precedent set in the Ghana Bar Association case, a move the committee deemed as misbehaviour.
Source: UGC
Kwaku Azar reacts to Gertrude Torkornoo's removal
Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported that a US-based lawyer, Kwaku Azar, reacted to the removal of Ghana’s Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
President Mahama removed her from office after receiving a report from the Article 149 Committee looking into her alleged misconduct.
In a Facebook post, Azar thanked the committee for its diligence and expressed thanks to the committee for its work on the Torkornoo case.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
